Use of MethHC and SurvExpress database in the course of molecular biology for medical students: Understanding of epigenetic modifications in gene expression with problem-based learning

Abstract

Background: Currently, there are teaching methods that allow students to understand clinical conditions, pathologies and hereditary diseases, mainly supported by problem-based learning (PBL), simulation-based learning (SBL), image analysis, case studies, and use of platforms electronic and mobile applications. However, the use of databases and PBL in the compression of molecular biology applied to research has not been well investigated. The scientific literature has reported combinations of pedagogical strategies with positive results compared to the traditional method based on reading, therefore, this study aimed to design a pedagogic method making use of databases applied in scientific research to understand the relation of methylation on gene expression and its relationship in the appearance of diseases such as cancer. Methods: Three databases were used, Genetics Home Reference (GHR) for the theoretical understanding of the study gene, MethHC for the analysis of the effect of methylation on gene expression and SurvExpress for biomarker validation for cancer gene expression. All databases support your information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The guidelines of each platform for the analysis of the information were followed. The present study exemplified with the analysis of the POT1 gene that is involved with the maintenance of telomere length and has been associated with breast cancer. Results: The function of the POT1 gene, chromosomal and molecular position, number of exons and their transcriptional variants in invasive breast carcinoma were described. It was found that the expression of POT1 depends on the positioning of the levels of methylation within the structures that comprise the gene in healthy and tumor tissue, besides it was reported through a survival analysis that the gene is best expressed in the low group's risk compared to the high-risk group. Conclusion: The use of databases allows the student to make use of his theoretical knowledge and take them to clinical practice and research, the results obtained from the use of GHR, MethHC, and SurvExpress allow to apply molecular biology in clinical research and promote problem-based learning developing analysis and interpretation skills in students. This pedagogical method allows the understanding of epigenetic effects on the expression of cancer-related genes.