Pioneer Factors and Architectural Proteins Mediating Embryonic Expression Signatures in Cancer. Issue 4 (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dobersch, Stephanie; Rubio, Karla; Barreto, Guillermo
• Is Part Of: Trends in molecular medicine. Volume 25:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 302
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: pioneer factors -- architectural proteins -- embryonic -- expression signature -- cancer; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.01.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4914

Abstract

Abstract : Accumulation of mutations causing aberrant changes in the genome promotes cancer. However, mutations do not occur in every cancer subtype, suggesting additional events that trigger cancer. Chromatin rearrangements initiated by pioneer factors and architectural proteins are key events occurring before cancer-related genes are expressed. Both protein groups are also master regulators of important processes during embryogenesis. Several publications demonstrated that embryonic gene expression signatures are reactivated during cancer. This review article highlights current knowledge on pioneer factors and architectural proteins mediating chromatin rearrangements, which are the backbone of embryonic expression signatures promoting malignant transformation. Understanding chromatin rearrangements inducing embryonic expression signatures in adult cells might be the key to novel therapeutic approaches against cancers subtypes that arise without genomic mutations. Highlights: A significant number of cancer patients develops cancer without genomic mutations. Chromatin rearrangements mediating expression signatures that promote malignant transformation are a plausible explanation for such cancer subtypes. Pioneer factors and architectural proteins are master regulators of important processes during embryogenesis. Embryonic gene expression signatures are reactivated during cancer. Chromatin rearrangements initiated by pioneer factors and architectural proteins are key events occurring before cancer-related genes are expressed. Drugs and inhibitors targeting proteins associated with chromatin rearrangements are therapeutic alternatives against those cancer subtypes that arise without genomic mutations.