Fig. 2
From: Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progression
Classic molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA. a Genes are silenced by hypermethylation, which is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Genes are expressed when DNA is demethylated, which is catalyzed by DNA methylation inhibitors (DNMTis). b Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) maintain a reversible equilibrium state of histone acetylation. c MiRNAs are formed from precursor RNAs that are cleaved by the Drosha and Dicer enzymes. MiRNAs block gene expression by promoting mRNA degradation and by preventing protein translation