Influences of DNA Methylation and Histone Acetylation on Gene Expressions

Epigenetics is the concept of modifying the chromatin to achieve the different levels of transcription. This paper mainly focuses on two well-discovered mechanisms of epigenetics: DNA methylation and histone acetylation. While both affect chromatin assembly, the former acts on cytosine in the DNA strand, while the latter mostly acts on the amino acid lysine in the protein histones. Upon methylation and acetylation, the winding of chromatin is either strengthened or loosened. In addition to their actions, this paper illustrated the chemistry bases of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone acetylases (HATs), and histone deacetylases (HDACs), including the inhibitors that act against them. The discovery of these factors gives insights into clinical adaptations in analyzing pathologies of complex diseases. DNA methylation is largely being explored in neuropathic pain for diagnostic purposes and intensity detection. This paper also stresses the onerous evaluations taken to draw a conclusion in the perspective of epigenetics and the possible attention to be drawn when contradictive patterns are detected.