Can chromatin activity be manipulated for therapeutic purposes?

Yes, it is possible for chromatin activity to be manipulated for therapeutic purposes. Epigenetic modifications such as histone modifications can have impacts on gene expression and functions. Epigenetic therapies work to modify chromatin activity to restore normal gene expression patterns. As an example, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors are used to reverse abnormal DNA methylation in cancer cells. Chromatin remodeling is another technique where small molecules that modulate chromatin activity can potentially influence and fix disease-related abnormalities.