Gene silencing – a new theory of aging

The aging process involves silencing of the genes through methylation of promoter sequences and the acetylation of histones. This process contributes not only to aging, but also cancer when silencing affects tumor suppressor genes. Antineoplastons work as molecular switches, turning inactive tumor s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMedical hypotheses Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 578 - 583
Main Author Burzynski, Stanislaw R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2003
Subjects
Aging
DNA - metabolism
DNA Methylation
Gene Silencing
Histones - metabolism
Humans
Models, Theoretical
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Summary:The aging process involves silencing of the genes through methylation of promoter sequences and the acetylation of histones. This process contributes not only to aging, but also cancer when silencing affects tumor suppressor genes. Antineoplastons work as molecular switches, turning inactive tumor suppressor genes back on through demethylation of the DNA and acetylation of the histones. While they activate tumor suppressor genes, antineoplastons also activate some additional genes silenced during the aging process. Evidence of activation of silenced genes can be pursued by documenting the relationship between ‘molecular switches’ – DNA-demethylating agents and histone deacetylation inhibitors, genes which are turned on by them, and clinical anti-aging changes.
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ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/S0306-9877(03)00050-1