abstract |
The present invention relates to the interplay between the level of DNA methyltransferase andndemethylase activities, to the role of the interplay between these levels on the proliferative,ndifferentiated, tumorigenic and homeostatic state of the cell, and to the DNAnmethyltransferase and demethylase as therapeutic targets. The invention further relates to anreduction of the level of DNA methylation through inhibitors and antagonist in order toninhibit the excessive activity or hypermethylation of DNA MeTase in cancer cells to inducenthe original cellular tumor suppressing program, to turn on alternative gene expressionnprograms, to provide therapeutics directed at a nodal point of regulation of geneticninformation, and to modulate the general level of methylase and demethylase enzymaticnactivity of a cell to permit specific changes in the methylation pattern of a cell (Fig. 1). |