Entry number：13
SUBJECT
Studying the role of Apba1 gene methylation in colorectal cancer
DEPARTMENT
Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences
PROFESSOR AND STUDENT
Professor：Liang-Yi Hung
Student：Yu-Heng Kuan
ABSTRACT
Cancers result from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alternations in oncogenes and tumor suppression genes, which transform normal cells to cancer cells. DNA promoter region methylation is one of major roles in epigenetics alternation. Hypermethylation can suppress gene expression and promote carcinogenesis. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third major cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of gene methylation in CRC development, normal colon mucosa and CRC tissues from AOM/DSS-treated mice were collected to perform Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing, and the results showed that Apba1 is one of the potential methylated genes in CRC tissues. According to the previous studies, Apba1 (Amyloid beta precursor protein binding family A member 1) are hypermethylated in CRC. However, the mechanism and function of Apba1 in CRC progression still remain unclear. Our results indicated that Apba1 gene expression is down regulated in tumors of CRC patients, mice CRC cells, and human CRC cell lines. The treatment of 5 Aza-C, the inhibitor of DNA methylation, can reverse the expression of Apba1 in CRC cell lines. Our results suggested that the Apba1 is hyper-methylated and could act as a biomarker in CRC. The functional evaluation and the clinical application of Apba1 will further investigation.
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