Abstract
The influence of the DNA minor groove binding ligands on epigenetic silencing in eukaryotic human cells has been demonstrated
for the first time. Using HeLa cell population that harbors silent GFP-reporter gene under control of the CMV promoter we demonstrated
transcriptional reactivation effect of Hoechst 33342, Hoechst 33258, DAPI, Netropsin, Diminazene and Pentamidine. Total histone
acetylation changes were observed under Hoechst 33258 and Hoechst 33342 treatment. In addition Hoechst 33258 was shown to cause a
reduction in DNA methylation in the promoter region of the GFP-transgene whereas Hoechst 33342 brought about a decrease in histone
H3K4me3 modification.
Authors and affiliations
N.A. Shalginskikh (1), K.I. Kirsanov (1), E.A. Lesovaya (1), G.A. Belitskiy (1), R.A. Katz (2), M.G. Yakubovskaya (1)
1 -Institute of Carcinogenesis N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Moscow,
2 -Laboratory of molecular structure and function of retroviruses, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia