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Annual Review of Physiology Feb 2022Contrary to earlier beliefs, every cell in the individual is genetically different due to somatic mutations. Consequently, tissues become a mixture of cells with... (Review)
Review
Contrary to earlier beliefs, every cell in the individual is genetically different due to somatic mutations. Consequently, tissues become a mixture of cells with distinct genomes, a phenomenon termed somatic mosaicism. Recent advances in genome sequencing technology have unveiled possible causes of mutations and how they shape the unique mutational landscape of the tissues. Moreover, the analysis of sequencing data in combination with clinical information has revealed the impacts of somatic mosaicism on disease processes. In this review, we discuss somatic mosaicism in various tissues and its clinical implications for human disease.
Topics: Biology; Humans; Mosaicism; Mutation
PubMed: 34637327
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-061121-040048 -
Journal of Hematology & Oncology Mar 2023Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptides (APOBECs) are cytosine deaminases involved in innate and adaptive immunity. However, some APOBEC family... (Review)
Review
Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptides (APOBECs) are cytosine deaminases involved in innate and adaptive immunity. However, some APOBEC family members can also deaminate host genomes to generate oncogenic mutations. The resulting mutations, primarily signatures 2 and 13, occur in many tumor types and are among the most common mutational signatures in cancer. This review summarizes the current evidence implicating APOBEC3s as major mutators and outlines the exogenous and endogenous triggers of APOBEC3 expression and mutational activity. The review also discusses how APOBEC3-mediated mutagenesis impacts tumor evolution through both mutagenic and non-mutagenic pathways, including by inducing driver mutations and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Moving from molecular biology to clinical outcomes, the review concludes by summarizing the divergent prognostic significance of APOBEC3s across cancer types and their therapeutic potential in the current and future clinical landscapes.
Topics: Humans; Clinical Relevance; Neoplasms; Mutagenesis; Mutation; Peptides; Cytidine Deaminase; Tumor Microenvironment; APOBEC Deaminases
PubMed: 36978147
DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01425-5 -
Microorganisms Feb 2022Adaptation to the changing environmental conditions experienced within a host requires genetic diversity within a microbial population. Genetic diversity arises from... (Review)
Review
Adaptation to the changing environmental conditions experienced within a host requires genetic diversity within a microbial population. Genetic diversity arises from mutations which occur due to DNA damage from exposure to exogenous environmental stresses or generated endogenously through respiration or DNA replication errors. As mutations can be deleterious, a delicate balance must be obtained between generating enough mutations for micro-evolution to occur while maintaining fitness and genomic integrity. Pathogenic microorganisms can actively modify their mutation rate to enhance adaptive micro-evolution by increasing expression of error-prone DNA polymerases or by mutating or decreasing expression of genes required for DNA repair. Strains which exhibit an elevated mutation rate are termed mutators. Mutators are found in varying prevalence in clinical populations where large-effect beneficial mutations enhance survival and are predominately caused by defects in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway. Mutators can facilitate the emergence of antibiotic resistance, allow phenotypic modifications to prevent recognition and destruction by the host immune system and enable switching to metabolic and cellular morphologies better able to survive in the given environment. This review will focus on recent advances in understanding the phenotypic and genotypic changes occurring in MMR mutators in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens.
PubMed: 35208897
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020442 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta Nov 2015A number of studies have shown that ageing is associated with increased amounts of mtDNA deletions and/or point mutations in a variety of species as diverse as... (Review)
Review
A number of studies have shown that ageing is associated with increased amounts of mtDNA deletions and/or point mutations in a variety of species as diverse as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, mice, rats, dogs, primates and humans. This detected vulnerability of mtDNA has led to the suggestion that the accumulation of somatic mtDNA mutations might arise from increased oxidative damage and could play an important role in the ageing process by producing cells with a decreased oxidative capacity. However, the vast majority of DNA polymorphisms and disease-causing base-substitution mutations and age-associated mutations that have been detected in human mtDNA are transition mutations. They are likely arising from the slight infidelity of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase. Indeed, transition mutations are also the predominant type of mutation found in mtDNA mutator mice, a model for premature ageing caused by increased mutation load due to the error prone mitochondrial DNA synthesis. These particular misincorporation events could also be exacerbated by dNTP pool imbalances. The role of different repair, replication and maintenance mechanisms that contribute to mtDNA integrity and mutagenesis will be discussed in details in this article. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging.
Topics: Aging; Animals; DNA Helicases; DNA Polymerase gamma; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA, Mitochondrial; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Humans; Mitochondrial Proteins; Mutation
PubMed: 26014346
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.05.016 -
Cells May 2021The DNA repair endonuclease EndoMS/NucS is highly conserved in Archaea and Actinobacteria. This enzyme is able to recognize and cleave dsDNA carrying a mismatched base... (Review)
Review
The DNA repair endonuclease EndoMS/NucS is highly conserved in Archaea and Actinobacteria. This enzyme is able to recognize and cleave dsDNA carrying a mismatched base pair, and its activity is enhanced by the interaction with the sliding clamp of the replisome. Today, EndoMS/NucS has been established as the key protein of a non-canonical mismatch repair (MMR) pathway, acting specifically in the repair of transitions and being essential for maintaining genome stability. Despite having some particularities, such as its lower activity on transversions and the inability to correct indels, EndoMS/NucS meets the main hallmarks of a MMR. Its absence leads to a hypermutator phenotype, a transition-biased mutational spectrum and an increase in homeologous recombination. Interestingly, polymorphic EndoMS/NucS variants with a possible effect in mutation rate have been detected in clinical isolates of the relevant actinobacterial pathogen . Considering that MMR defects are often associated with the emergence of resistant bacteria, the existence of EndoMS/NucS-defective mutators could have an important role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in . Therefore, a further understanding of the EndoMS/NucS-mediated non-canonical MMR pathway may reveal new strategies to predict and fight drug resistance. This review is focused on the recent progress in NucS, with special emphasis on its effect on genome stability and evolvability in Actinobacteria.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Bacterial Proteins; Base Pair Mismatch; DNA Mismatch Repair; Genomic Instability; Mutation Rate
PubMed: 34070467
DOI: 10.3390/cells10061314 -
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England) Jan 2022Insertional mutagenesis allows for the creation of loss-of-function mutations on a genome-wide scale. In theory, every gene can be 'knocked out' via the insertion of an...
MOTIVATION
Insertional mutagenesis allows for the creation of loss-of-function mutations on a genome-wide scale. In theory, every gene can be 'knocked out' via the insertion of an additional DNA sequence. Resources of sequence-indexed mutants of plant and animal model organisms are instrumental for functional genomics studies. Such repositories significantly speed up the acquisition of interesting genotypes and allow for the validation of hypotheses regarding phenotypic consequences in reverse genetics. To create such resources, comprehensive sequencing of flanking sequence tags using protocols such as Mutant-seq requires various downstream computational tasks, and these need to be performed in an efficient and reproducible manner.
RESULTS
Here, we present MuWU, an automated Mutant-seq workflow utility initially created for the identification of Mutator insertion sites of the BonnMu resource, representing a reverse genetics mutant collection for functional genetics in maize (Zea mays). MuWU functions as a fast, one-stop downstream processing pipeline of Mutant-seq reads. It takes care of all complex bioinformatic tasks, such as identifying tagged genes and differentiating between germinal and somatic mutations/insertions. Furthermore, MuWU automatically assigns insertions to the corresponding mutated seed stocks. We discuss the implementation and how parameters can easily be adapted to use MuWU for other species/transposable elements.
AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
MuWU is a Snakemake-based workflow and freely available at https://github.com/tgstoecker/MuWU.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Topics: Animals; Mutagenesis, Insertional; DNA Transposable Elements; Genomics; Mutation; Gene Library; Zea mays
PubMed: 34586393
DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab679 -
DNA Repair Oct 2020The APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases has been proposed to represent a major enzymatic source of mutations in cancer. Here, we summarize available evidence that links... (Review)
Review
The APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases has been proposed to represent a major enzymatic source of mutations in cancer. Here, we summarize available evidence that links APOBEC deaminases to cancer mutagenesis. We also highlight newly identified human cell models of APOBEC mutagenesis, including cancer cell lines with suspected endogenous APOBEC activity and a cell system of telomere crisis-associated mutations. Finally, we draw on recent data to propose potential causes of APOBEC misregulation in cancer, including the instigating factors, the relevant mutator(s), and the mechanisms underlying generation of the genome-dispersed and clustered APOBEC-induced mutations.
Topics: APOBEC Deaminases; Animals; Humans; Mutagenesis; Mutation; Neoplasms
PubMed: 32818816
DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.102905 -
Journal of Autoimmunity Jul 2022Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with secondary malignancies. Previous studies have suggested that mutated cancer proteins, such as RNA polymerase III, are...
OBJECTIVES
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with secondary malignancies. Previous studies have suggested that mutated cancer proteins, such as RNA polymerase III, are autoantigens promoting an inflammatory response in SSc. However, it has never been previously investigated whether non-neoplastic tissue in SSc harbors mutations which may play a role in SSc pathogenesis.
METHODS
Skin biopsies were obtained from 8 sequential patients with a progressive form of early stage SSc (with severe skin and/or lung involvement). Areas of dermal fibrosis were microdissected and analyzed with deep, whole exome sequencing. Gene mutation patterns were compared to autologous buccal mucosal cells as a control.
RESULTS
SSc skin biopsies were hypermutated with an average of 58 mutations/10 base pairs. The mutational pattern in all samples exhibited a clock-like signature, which is ubiquitous in cancers and in senescent cells. Of the 1997 genes we identified which were mutated in at least two SSc patients, 39 genes represented cancer drivers (i.e. tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes) which are commonly found in gynecological, squamous and gastrointestinal cancer signatures. Of all the mutations, the most common mutated genes were important in regulating pathways related to epigenetic histone modifications, DNA repair and genome integrity.
CONCLUSIONS
Somatic hypermutation occurs in fibrotic skin in patients with early progressive SSc. Cancer driver gene mutations may potentially play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of SSc.
Topics: Fibrosis; Genomic Instability; Humans; Neoplasms; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin
PubMed: 35803104
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102847 -
RNA (New York, N.Y.) Mar 2011We present a rapid experimental strategy for inferring base pairs in structured RNAs via an information-rich extension of classic chemical mapping approaches. The...
We present a rapid experimental strategy for inferring base pairs in structured RNAs via an information-rich extension of classic chemical mapping approaches. The mutate-and-map method, previously applied to a DNA/RNA helix, systematically searches for single mutations that enhance the chemical accessibility of base-pairing partners distant in sequence. To test this strategy for structured RNAs, we have carried out mutate-and-map measurements for a 35-nt hairpin, called the MedLoop RNA, embedded within an 80-nt sequence. We demonstrate the synthesis of all 105 single mutants of the MedLoop RNA sequence and present high-throughput DMS, CMCT, and SHAPE modification measurements for this library at single-nucleotide resolution. The resulting two-dimensional data reveal visually clear, punctate features corresponding to RNA base pair interactions as well as more complex features; these signals can be qualitatively rationalized by comparison to secondary structure predictions. Finally, we present an automated, sequence-blind analysis that permits the confident identification of nine of the 10 MedLoop RNA base pairs at single-nucleotide resolution, while discriminating against all 1460 false-positive base pairs. These results establish the accuracy and information content of the mutate-and-map strategy and support its feasibility for rapidly characterizing the base-pairing patterns of larger and more complex RNA systems.
Topics: Base Pairing; Base Sequence; DNA; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutagenesis; Mutation; Nucleic Acid Conformation; RNA
PubMed: 21239468
DOI: 10.1261/rna.2516311 -
International Journal of Cancer Feb 2021Micronuclei, small spatially-separated, nucleus-like structures, are a common feature of human cancer cells. There are considerable heterogeneities in the sources,... (Review)
Review
Micronuclei, small spatially-separated, nucleus-like structures, are a common feature of human cancer cells. There are considerable heterogeneities in the sources, structures and genetic activities of micronuclei. Accumulating evidence suggests that micronuclei and main nuclei represent separate entities with respect to DNA replication, DNA damage sensing and repairing capacity because micronuclei are not monitored by the same checkpoints nor covered by the same nuclear envelope as the main nuclei. Thus, micronuclei are spatially restricted "mutation factories." Several large-scale DNA sequencing and bioinformatics studies over the last few years have revealed that most micronuclei display a mutational signature of chromothripsis immediately after their generation and the underlying molecular mechanisms have been dissected extensively. Clonal expansion of the micronucleated cells is context-dependent and is associated with chromothripsis and several other mutational signatures including extrachromosomal circular DNA, kataegis and chromoanasynthesis. These results suggest what was once thought to be merely a passive indicator of chromosomal instability is now being recognized as a strong mutator phenotype that may drive intratumoral genetic heterogeneity. Herein, we revisit the actionable determinants that contribute to the bursts of mutagenesis in micronuclei and present the growing number of evidence which suggests that micronuclei have distinct short- and long-term mutational and functional effects to cancer genomes. We also pose challenges for studying the long-term effects of micronucleation in the upcoming years.
Topics: Cell Nucleus; Chromothripsis; DNA Damage; Genomic Instability; Humans; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; Mitosis; Mutation; Neoplasms; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 32949152
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33300