Correlation between butyrate-induced histone hyperacetylation turn-over and c-myc expression.

Transcriptionally active chromatin has an high level of histone acetylation, a post-transcriptional modification known to alter nucleosomal conformation increasing the accessibility of transcription factors to DNA. Recent studies have led new interest in histone acetylase and deacetylase because of their role as transcription factors. Sodium butyrate, a known reversible inhibitor of histone deacetylase, modulates a large number of genes.

Inhibition of the translocated c-myc in Burkitt's lymphoma by a PNA complementary to the E mu enhancer.

In Burkitt's Lymphoma there is an up-regulation of the c-myc oncogene caused by its translocation from chromosome 8 to chromosome 14, often close to the E mu enhancer of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IgH). In Burkitt's Lymphoma cells, a peptide nucleic acid complementary for a specific unique E mu intronic sequence selectively blocked the expression of the c-myc oncogene under E mu control but not of other c-myc alleles. This Peptide Nucleic Acid also inhibited IgM expression in B cells.