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The control of gene
expression is determined by
a number of different
epigenetic regulatory
mechanisms. Paramount
amongst these is the
chromatin environment
surrounding the gene and key
covalent modifications
(including acetylation,
methylation, phosphorilation
and others) to the histone
proteins associated with the
nucleosomes of the gene.
This is often referred to as
the histone code.
Disruption of the normal
histone code is associated
with aberrant gene
expression and malignant
transformation and these
alterations are the basis of
Nucleosomics.
Nucleosomics is
non-invasive. Intact
nucleosomes derived from
tumour chromatin are found
in the blood of cancer
patients, but not in healthy
individuals. These cell free
nucleosomes can be analyzed
for histone code
modifications. The presence
in the blood of nucleosomes
associated with particular
histone modifications
and/gene sequences is
diagnostic of particular
cancers.
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