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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2022, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 275-288.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.21-440

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The regulatory mechanisms by enhancers during cancer initiation and progression

Sihan Qi1,2(), Qilin Wang1,2, Junyou Zhang1,2, Qian Liu1,2, Chunyan Li1,2,3,4()   

  1. 1. School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    2. School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    3. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    4. Key Laboratory of Big Data-Based Precision Medicine (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China;
  • Received:2021-12-31 Revised:2022-03-05 Online:2022-04-20 Published:2022-03-15
  • Contact: Li Chunyan E-mail:ZY2010120@buaa.edu.cn;lichunyan@buaa.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Nos(82072499);Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Nos(31801094);Young Scientist Innovation Team Support Program of Beihang University No(YWF-21-BJ-J-T105)

Abstract:

Enhancer is a DNA sequence, and mainly acts in cis to regulate gene transcription. Due to the uncertainty in both location and distance between enhancers and their target genes, it is more complex and difficult to study the underlying regulatory mechanism of enhancers. Accumulating evidences indicate that enhancers are closely associated with the occurrence and development of diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, the studies of enhancers in cancer will be helpful to deeply unravel cancer pathogenesis and to promote the development of antitumor drugs. The related research is with great social significance and economic value. Currently, the identification of enhancers is insufficient. The regulatory mechanisms by enhancers during the initiation and progression of cancer and other diseases have not been fully delineated. In this review, we provide an overview of enhancers, super enhancers and their properties, followed by a description of enhancer prediction and identification at the genome-wide level. Finally, we summarize the regulatory roles of enhancers during diseases such as cancer in recent years, thereby providing a reference for the future exploration on enhancer regulatory mechanisms as well as cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Key words: enhancers, super enhancers, cancer, regulatory mechanisms