Histone acetylation allows for relaxation of the DNA so that transcription can proceed. All trans retinoic acid causes the granulocytes in APML to further mature, which requires DNA transcription / translation.
osler_weber_renduThe questions asks for response to ATRA. Should that not be decreased transcription to treat the cancer? Which makes methyl transferase (aka methylation) the more likely answer +9
pg32@osler, no @sympathetikey is correct. ATRA's mechanism in treating APML is to encourage the cells to mature. Maturation would require gene transcription, meaning histone acetylases would be used. +9
nnpbut ATRA is letting transcription of an abnormal protein ( that is 15:17 translocation)+3
lowyieldi believe the mechanism of APML is that the compound protein is ineffective at allowing for maturation of the blasts. giving ATRA allows the blasts to circumnavigate this step, relieving the backup+13
freemanpengFYI: acetylases are usually called acetyltransferases.
I got quite confused thinking "acetylases" means getting rid of acetyl(just like phostase)...+
utap2001function histone kinase
The best-known function of histone phosphorylation takes place during cellular response to DNA damage, when phosphorylated histone H2A(X) demarcates large chromatin domains around the site of DNA breakage.
function of histone N-methyltransferase
methyltransferases (HMT) are histone-modifying enzymes (e.g., histone-lysine N-methyltransferases and histone-arginine N-methyltransferases), that catalyze the transfer of one, two, or three methyl groups to lysine and arginine residues of histone proteins.
Histone methylation is a principal epigenetic modification of chromatin[9] that determines gene expression, genomic stability, stem cell maturation, cell lineage development, genetic imprinting, DNA methylation, and cell mitosis.+
submitted by โsympathetikey(1600)
Histone acetylation allows for relaxation of the DNA so that transcription can proceed. All trans retinoic acid causes the granulocytes in APML to further mature, which requires DNA transcription / translation.