The RASSF1A Gene
Ras Associated Domain Family 1A (RASSF1A) is a tumour suppressor gene located on chromosome 3 [1]. RASSF1A has been implicated in many cancers, including prostate cancer. In prostate cancer the gene undergoes epigenetic alterations which affects its expression [1, 3]. DNA methylation is the process of adding a methyl group to cytosine residue (when it is followed by a guanine) in DNA. Due to further mutations, over time clusters of CpG dinucleotides will form, these are known as GpG islands and are found to be hypermethylated in RASSF1A in prostate cancer [3].
One study showed RASSF1A to be hypermethylated within the promoter region of the gene in 96% of cell lines [3]. This inappropriate methylation leads to silencing of the gene, so the protein is not expressed and is often passed on in replication to daughter cells. With a tumour suppressor gene silenced it is easier for the cancer to grow and advance as the protein is not transcribed so it will not function as required.
This section will tell you about the gene ontology and transcriptomics of the RASSF1A gene.
One study showed RASSF1A to be hypermethylated within the promoter region of the gene in 96% of cell lines [3]. This inappropriate methylation leads to silencing of the gene, so the protein is not expressed and is often passed on in replication to daughter cells. With a tumour suppressor gene silenced it is easier for the cancer to grow and advance as the protein is not transcribed so it will not function as required.
This section will tell you about the gene ontology and transcriptomics of the RASSF1A gene.
References
[1] Ge, YZ., Xu, LW., Jia, RP. et al. 2014. The association between RASSF1A promoter methylation and prostate cancer: evidence from 19 published studies. Tumour Biol. 35: 3881
[2] Donninger, H. Vos, M.D. & Clark, G.J. 2007. The RASSF1A tumour suppressor. Journal of Cell Science. 120: 3163-3172.
[3] Yegnasubramanian, S., Kowalski, J., Gonzalgo, M.L. et al. 2004. Hypermethylation of GpG islands in primary and metastatic human prostate cancer. Cancer Research. 64(6): 1975-1986.
[2] Donninger, H. Vos, M.D. & Clark, G.J. 2007. The RASSF1A tumour suppressor. Journal of Cell Science. 120: 3163-3172.
[3] Yegnasubramanian, S., Kowalski, J., Gonzalgo, M.L. et al. 2004. Hypermethylation of GpG islands in primary and metastatic human prostate cancer. Cancer Research. 64(6): 1975-1986.
This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison.