Epigenetics Agenda

Epigenetic Therapy – A New Way of Treating Solid Tumors
Malcolm Brock, Associate Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, United States of America

Translational research in the Epigenetics of Solid Tumors has largely been confined to diagnostic and prognostic biomarker approaches. This presentation shows the first successful objective responses in a phase 2 clinical trial of lung cancer to epigenetic therapy.

Epigenetics of Prenatal Lead Exposure in Humans and Effects on Brain Development.
Douglas Ruden, Director of Epigenomics, Wayne State University, United States of America

We show that hydroxymethylcytosine levels increase under oxidative stress conditions within 24 hours and propose a model for how TET is regulated by mitochondrial metabolism.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Molecular Pathological Epidemiology: Integrated Analysis of Host and Cancer Epigenetics
Shuji Ogino, Associate Professor, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, United States of America

Cancers are complex multifactorial diseases caused by interactions of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) is an integrated interdisciplinary field of science, to dissect etiologies and epigenetic mechanisms of carcinogenesis and contribute to personalized medicine.

Functional Replacement of 5-azaC-dR by 2´-deoxyriboguanylurea in the Inhibition of Human Dnmt1, Epimutagenesis, Mutagenesis, and Fragile Site Induction
Steven Smith, Professor, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, United States of America

5-aza-2´-deoxycytidine is an inhibitor of DNA methylation, a mutagen, an epimutagen, a carcinogen, an inducer of fragile sites and a chemotherapeutic agent. Each of these functions can be replaced in human cells by 2´-deoxyriboguanylurea: its the primary breakdown product.

Lunch and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Poster Viewing Session

Potential of the Epigenetics Diet in Aging and Cancer Prevention
Trygve Tollefsbol, Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States of America

Studies indicate that epigenetic-modifying dietary compounds influence gene expression. They also affect the epigenetic regulation of many genes important in cancer and aging. Consequently, an “epigenetics diet” may have utility in cancer prevention and in delaying the aging process.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Demethylation and Re-expression of Tumor Suppressor Genes: A Mechanistic Study to Develop Novel Anticancer Therapies
Sibaji Sarkar, Adj Instructor, Boston University School of Medicine, United States of America

Epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes are regulated by signaling. Their re-expression sensitizes cancer cells to cytotoxic drugs, which is exploited to develop combination therapy.

Variant Enhancer Loci in Cancer
Peter Scacheri, Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University, United States of America

I will present data indicating that alterations in epigenetic marks at gene enhancer elements are a driving force in carcinogenesis.

Epigenetic Mechanisms and Metastability in Mouse and Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Theodore Rasmussen, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut, United States of America

Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into most if not all cells found in the adult body plan. The composition of chromatin in pluripotent cells is developmentally potentiated and plastic. This presentation includes research focused on chromatin and epigenetics in pluripotent cells, to include X chromosome inactivation and unique features of cell cycle regulation, chromosomal stability, and checkpoint control in pluripotent cells.

Drug Discovery in Epigenetics
Claes Wahlestedt, Director, Scripps Research Institute, United States of America

Much of the mammalian genome is transcribed into non-coding RNAs of different categories. This lecture will primarily be concerned with natural antisense transcripts (NATs) most of which are long noncoding RNAs. NATs are found in most gene loci and regulate gene expression through several distinct mechanisms including chromatin modifications.

Drinks Reception

DNA Methylation in Cancer: From Genome-Wide to Something Useful
James Herman, Professor, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, United States of America

Epigenetic changes represent common and functionally important alterations that contribute to carcinogenesis. This talk will focus on the use of specific alterations of DNA methylation as prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Chromatin and Epigenetics in Hormone Regulated Transcription
Trevor Archer, Principal Investigator, National Institute of Health, United States of America

A full understanding of nuclear receptor mediated transcription requires an appreciation for the specific roles played by the chromatin structure of target genes and the molecular machines required to unleash this regulatory potential.

Next Generation Methods for Epigenomic Analysis
Paul Soloway, Professor, Cornell University, United States of America

Current epigenomic methods have several limitations affecting their utility for high throughput studies. Single molecule analytical methods described here identify approaches for overcoming these limitations, providing quantitative and information rich epigenomic data on a high throughput platform.

Lunch and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Poster Viewing Session

The Role of Histone Modifications in Limiting Heterochromatic DNA Replication.
Scott Michaels, Associate Professor, Indiana University, United States of America

In Arabidopsis, histone H3 lysine 27 mono-methylation (H3K27me1) represents a novel silencing pathway that functions independently of H3K9me2 and DNA methylation. H3K27me1 is required for heterochromatin condensation, gene silencing, and the repression of heterochromatic DNA replication.

Biochemical Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance
Nicole Francis, Associate Professor, Harvard University, United States of America

To understand chromatin-based heritable gene regulation, the behavior of Drosophila Polycomb Group proteins during DNA replication and mitosis is being dissected in vitro and in Drosophila cells.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Epigenome Remodeling During Germ Cell Specification in C. elegans
William Kelly, Associate Professor, Emory University, United States of America

Analyses focused on the epigenetic reprogramming events and the mechanisms involved during primordial germ cell specification in C. elegans.

Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Functions of the JIL-1 H3S10 Kinase in Regulation of Chromatin Structure
Kristen Johansen, Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, United States of America

The JIL-1 histone H3 kinase promotes open chromatin structure by phosphorylating histone H3S10 to antagonize heterochromatic spreading. Recently we have shown that JIL-1’s CTD also can affect chromatin morphology in a non-enzymatic manner, likely due to interaction with architectural proteins.

Close of Conference