Animal Model Study of Epigenetic Inhibitors

Higher eukaryotic transcription is regulated by both genetic and epigenetic regulators which secure the fine tuning of genetic processes in a given context. Epigenetics uses chromatin modification to regulate chromatin structure dynamically. Chromatin can be regulated by epigenetic factors including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, regulation of noncoding RNAs, and higher order chromatin structure. Since discovered, the reversible property of these epigenetic modifiers make them perfect candidates for identifying molecular targets to be used for drug discovery. Promising drugs from preclinical study usually proceed to be tested in animal models which provide data on dosing, toxicity, and other important aspects that allow for safe and efficient clinical trials. There are advantages, challenges, and limitations associated with the use of animal models for discovery and development of epigenetic inhibitors.