McLaughlin-Drubin, Margaret E.Munger, Karl2014-02-182013McLaughlin-Drubin, Margaret E., and Karl Munger. 2013. “Biochemical and Functional Interactions of Human Papillomavirus Proteins with Polycomb Group Proteins.” Viruses 5 (5): 1231-1249. doi:10.3390/v5051231. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v5051231.1999-4915http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11717591The role of enzymes involved in polycomb repression of gene transcription has been studied extensively in human cancer. Polycomb repressive complexes mediate oncogene-induced senescence, a principal innate cell-intrinsic tumor suppressor pathway that thwarts expansion of cells that have suffered oncogenic hits. Infections with human cancer viruses including human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Epstein-Barr virus can trigger oncogene-induced senescence, and the viruses have evolved strategies to abrogate this response in order to establish an infection and reprogram their host cells to establish a long-term persistent infection. As a consequence of inhibiting polycomb repression and evading oncogene induced-senescence, HPV infected cells have an altered epigenetic program as evidenced by aberrant homeobox gene expression. Similar alterations are frequently observed in non-virus associated human cancers and may be harnessed for diagnosis and therapy.en-UScervical cancerbiomarkerhistone methylationtumor suppressorJournal Article2014-02-1810.3390/v5051231