Methylation Mayhem
I’m the tiny chemical tag added to DNA that can turn genes off without changing the DNA sequence.
What is DNA methylation?
This term describes the moment a normal cell “goes rogue” and becomes cancerous.
What is oncogenesis?
This toxic metal exposure is strongly linked to bladder cancer.
What is arsenic?
This gene helps control inflammation and immune responses through NF-κB signaling.
What is NFKB1?
This type of stress occurs when reactive oxygen molecules accumulate in cells.
What is oxidative stress?
When too many of those methyl tags disappear, genes can suddenly become more active.
What is hypomethylation?
This broader process describes how cancer develops step-by-step over time.
What is carcinogenesis?
This metal can increase ovarian cancer cell growth and estrogen receptor expression.
What is cadmium?
This tumor suppressor gene keeps the cell cycle in check
What is CDKN2A?
Similar to oxidative stress, but caused by reactive nitrogen molecules.
What is nitrosative stress?
These enzymes act like molecular scribes, adding methyl groups to DNA.
What are DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs)?
When these protective genes get silenced by methylation, cancer risk increases.
What are tumor suppressor genes?
Heavy metals often increase these damaging molecules that attack DNA and proteins.
What are reactive oxygen species (ROS)?
This gene encodes the estrogen receptor involved in hormone signaling.
What is ESR1?
Damage to this molecule can lead to mutations and cancer development.
What is DNA?
If methylation happens in this gene region, transcription often gets shut down.
What is the promoter region?
Genes that normally promote cell growth can become dangerous when overactivated.
What are oncogenes?
This cellular condition happens when ROS overwhelm antioxidant defenses.
What is oxidative stress?
Epigenetic changes can alter gene activity without changing this molecule.
What is DNA sequence?
Oxidative stress can disrupt these regulatory marks controlling gene expression.
What are epigenetic modifications?