Gene expression analysis of MBD proteins after treatment with DNMT inhibitors in breast cancer

Abstract

Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins are considered as the epigenetic readers of the methyl tags on DNA. This highly conserved family of DNA-binding proteins recognizes the information represented by methylation patterns and transduces them into appropriate functional states. MBD proteins bind to the DNA around methylated cytosine bases located particularly in the promoter regions, preventing binding of transcription factors and RNA polymerase and thereby repress transcription. Region-specific DNA hypermethylation is considered as a critical factor in tumorigenic progression. This hypermethylation induced silencing of tumor suppressor genes in cancer cells is mediated by MBD proteins, hence they are now considered as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of malignant transformation. The present study will be conducted to analyse the gene expression status of the methyl-CpG-binding (MBD) proteins - MeCP2, MBD1, MBD2, MBD3 and MBD4 in breast cancer. This study will help in creating an epigenetic signature based on MBD protein distribution and occupancy in a gene and tumor type specific context for diagnosis and detection of different cancer types.