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Engineered Zinc Finger Proteins pp 149–161Cite as

Silencing of Gene Expression by Targeted DNA Methylation: Concepts and Approaches

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 649))

Abstract

Targeted DNA methylation is a novel and attractive approach for stable silencing of gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. The potential applications of this concept include cancer treatment, treatment of viral infections and, in general, treatment of any disease that could be attenuated by the stable repression of known target genes. We review the literature on targeted DNA methylation and gene silencing, summarize the achievements and the challenges that remain, and discuss technical issues critical for this approach.

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Acknowledgments

Work in the authors’ laboratory has been supported by the DFG and the Wilhelm Sander Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Lab, School of Engineering and Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Renata Z. Jurkowska & Albert Jeltsch

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  1. Renata Z. Jurkowska
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  2. Albert Jeltsch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Molecular &, Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Cnr. Butlin Ave. & Maze Cres., Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia

    Joel P. Mackay

  2. Dept. Pharmacology & Genome Center, University of California, Davis, E. Health Sciences Drive 451, Davis, 95616, California, USA

    David J. Segal

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Jurkowska, R.Z., Jeltsch, A. (2010). Silencing of Gene Expression by Targeted DNA Methylation: Concepts and Approaches. In: Mackay, J., Segal, D. (eds) Engineered Zinc Finger Proteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 649. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-753-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-753-2_9

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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