Nucleophilic Mechanism of ROS/RNS Signaling in Cancer Epigenetic Modifications

Vitamin Research Institute, Moscow, Russia

*Corresponding Author:

Professor Igor Afanas'ev

Rua Vitorino Nemesio 48, 6.1, 2050-638

Porto, Portugal

Tel. 351-22-404-1736

E-mail: iafananizer@gmail.com

Abstract

       It has been shown that cancer is characterized by enhanced oxidative stress. Therefore reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) signaling in epigenetic modifications of cancer cells might be even more important comparing to the other pathologies. It is known that ROS/RNS can change DNA methylation through the direct interaction with DNA molecules and by affecting the levels of DNA methyltransferases. ROS/RNS signaling also plays an important role in the mechanism of acetylation/deacetylation of histones by histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). We suggest that ROS/RNS signaling in epigenetic processes proceeds by a nucleophilic mechanism of etherification and hydrolysis where free radicals superoxide and nitric oxide manifest their nucleophilic properties. As HDAC inhibitors are effective ROS producers, the enhanced oxidative stress might be at least partly responsible for their anticancer activity as epigenetic drugs.

Keywords: ROS, RNS, Radicals, Signaling, Cancer.

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