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Page 27
International Journal of Applied Science - Research and Review
ISSN 2394-9988
E u r o p e a n C o n f e r e n c e o n
Agriculture, Horticulture
& Epigenetics
F e b r u a r y 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 9
P a r i s , F r a n c e
Agriculture & Epigenetics 2019
Since the discovery of the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953,
“DNA inside the nucleus” has been the dominant biological paradigm
which has spawned the complex science of molecular biology and genomics.
Although this reductionist approach has been a commercial success,
produced an enormous quantity of information and given us intricate insights
into cellular functioning, it has provided little understanding of human health
and disease and to that extent has been largely unproductive. This is primarily
because this DNA-centric molecular approach has entirely ignored physiology.
We know now that there is a huge amount of DNA in the form of extra-cellular
cell-free chromatin (cfCh) that exists in the extracellular compartment of the
body, including in circulation, that is derived from the billions of cells that die
in the body every day. cfCh is fragmented but has extraordinary and diverse
local and systemic biological functions which places cfCh in the realm of
physiology. cfCh has the ability to integrate into genomes of healthy cells to
damage their DNA and trigger apoptotic and inflammatory responses. DNA
damage and inflammation are integral to ageing and ageing-related disorders
such as cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, stroke and neurodegenerative
disorders. Cancer is another example which may be initiated and propagated
via cfCh by its ability to bring about DNA damage, genomic instability and
inflammation. Our recent finding that patho-physiological effects of cfCh can
be abrogated by the use of appropriate cfCh inactivating agents suggests
therapeutic possibilities. The above considerations lead me to propose that
“DNA (chromatin) outside the cell” should now be considered the central
paradigm in biology replacing the currently accepted model in which the DNA
resides inside the nucleus.
Biography
Indraneel (Neel) Mittra is with Dr. Ernest Borges Chair in
Translational Research, Advanced Centre for Treatment,
Research & Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre,
Mumbai, India. Professor Mittra obtained his medical degree
from University of Delhi and is a Fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons of England and holds a PhD degree from University
of London. He did his post-doctoral training with Dr Renato
Dulbecco, Nobel Laureate, at the Imperial Cancer Research
Laboratories in London. Professor Mittra’s current research
interests lie in the area of biology of extracellular nucleic acids
and their role in ageing, inflammation, degenerative disorders
and cancer.
Chromatin outside the cell: the new paradigm in biology
Indraneel Mittra
Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
Indraneel Mittra, Int J Appl Sci Res Rev 2019, Volume: 6
DOI: 10.21767/2394-9988-C1-008