Fig. 2From: Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progressionClassic 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 translationBack to article page