In their investigations, the researchers led by Dr. Dr. Steve Hoffmann and Prof. Dr. Peter F. Stadler from the Institute of Informatics of the Leipzig University have detected a common epigenetic mechanism. A certain epigenetic mechanism no longer functions, called the bivalent chromatin. Bivalent chromatin are DNA segments attached to histone proteins which can have both suppressing and activating gene regulatory functions in the same gene region. this can lead to gene silencing or gene expression (1). The affected gene regulation is responsible for cell development. Thus, a loss of function of the bivalent chromatin results in a cell maturation disorder.

The scientists also found other interesting mechanisms.

Original publication:
Stephan H. Bernhart, Helene Kretzmer, Lesca M. Holdt, Frank Jühling, Ole Ammerpohl, Anke K. Bergmann, Bernd H. Northoff, Gero Doose, Reiner Siebert, Peter F. Stadler and Steve Hoffmann (2016): Changes of the bivalent chromatin coincide with the expression of developmental genes in Cancer Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 37393.

Source and further information:
http://www.bionity.com/en/news/160741/krebs-stoerung-der-genregulation-aktiviert-zellentwicklungsgene.html?WT.mc_id=ca0264

(1) Nadine L. Vastenhouw and Alexander F. Schier (2012): Bivalent Histone Modifications In Early Embryogenesis. Curr Opin Cell Biol 24/3: 374-386.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3372573/pdf/nihms371026.pdf