Epigenesis
1878
- unfolding development of an organism
- theory in contrast to Preformation
This research was conducted by Walther Flemming.
Epigenetics Timeline
Epigenetic Landscape
1957
- differentiation decisions during embryogenesis
This term was coined by Dr. Waddington.
Discoveries of Histone PTM
1960-70s
- Methylation (1962-64)
- discovery of DNA Methylation (1965)
- Acetylation (1964)
- Phosphorylation (1975)
- Ubiquitylation (1977)
Knudson "Two-Hit Hypothesis"
1971
- for a particular cell to become cancerous, both of the cell's tumor suppressor genes must be mutated
- first proposed by geneticist Alfred Knudson
- this hypothesis serves as the basis for researchers' understanding of how mutations in tumor suppressor genes drive cancer
Seeing Chromatin
1979
- within eukaryotic nuclei
- stained by basophilic
This research was conducted by Walther Flemming.
DNA Hypomethylation
1985
- DNA methylation plays a role in the regulation of gene activity.
Promoter CpG Island Hypermethylation
1989
- hypermethylation of CpG islands located in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes
IGF2 Loss of Imprinting
1993
- epigenetic tags on imprinted genes usually stay put for the life of the organism
- they're reset during egg and sperm formation
Discovery of HAT
1995
- HAT: Histone acetylase
- in vitro HAT assay (1995)
- Gcn5 identified (1996)
- milestone study of histone PTM
Discovery of HDAC
1996
- HDAC: Histone deacetylase.
- together with discovery of HAT, catalyzes the recent explosive growth of our knowledge in epigenetics
Chromosomal Instability
1997
- majority of human solid malignant tumors are characterized by chromosomal instability (CIN) involving gain or loss of whole chromosomes or fractions of chromosomes
Discovery of DMNT1
1997
- DMNT1: DNA methyltransferase 1
- significantly improves our knowledge of DNA methylation in development and diseases
Discovery of HMT
1999
- HMT: histone methylase
- uncovers the role of histone methylation in expression
- leads to identification of a large number of HMTs
- discovery of Bromodomain as acetyl reader
Vidaza
2004
- DNA methylation inhibitor
- approved by FDA
Discovery of HKDMs
2004
- LSD: reveals the dynamic nature of histone methylation
- JHDM1lFbxI11 and JMJD2: uncovers a large family of JmjC domain demethylases
- comprehends our understanding of histone modification system
- further suggests the possibility of epigenetic therapy targeting histone methylation
- discovery of histone deiminase
Zolinza
2006
- HDAC inhibitor
- approved by FDA
Direct evidences of...
2007
- histone methylation role in transcription and chromatin compaction