1
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Gao J, Zhao Y, Wang Z, Liu F, Chen X, Mo J, Jiang Y, Liu Y, Tian P, Li Y, Deng K, Qi X, Han D, Liu Z, Yang Z, Chen Y, Tang Y, Li C, Liu H, Li J, Jiang T. Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing identifies subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft recapitulated medulloblastoma. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38477441 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children. Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis. This study aims to compare the recapitulation of MB between subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (sPDX), intracranial patient-derived xenograft (iPDX), and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) at the single-cell level. METHODS We obtained primary human sonic hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (G3) MB samples from six patients. For each patient specimen, we developed two sPDX and iPDX models, respectively. Three Patch+/- GEMM models were also included for sequencing. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to compare gene expression profiles, cellular composition, and functional pathway enrichment. Bulk RNA-seq deconvolution was performed to compare cellular composition across models and human samples. RESULTS Our results showed that the sPDX tumor model demonstrated the highest correlation to the overall transcriptomic profiles of primary human tumors at the single-cell level within the SHH and G3 subgroups, followed by the GEMM model and iPDX. The GEMM tumor model was able to recapitulate all subpopulations of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells that can be clustered in human SHH tumors, including a higher proportion of tumor-associated astrocytes and immune cells, and an additional cluster of vascular endothelia when compared to human SHH tumors. CONCLUSIONS This study was the first to compare experimental models for MB at the single-cell level, providing value insights into model selection for different research purposes. sPDX and iPDX are suitable for drug testing and personalized therapy screenings, whereas GEMM models are valuable for investigating the interaction between tumor and TME cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, China
| | - Yahui Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jialin Mo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyi Tian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanong Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiwen Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueling Qi
- Department of NeuroPathology, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongming Han
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zijia Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yixi Chen
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Tang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunde Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hailong Liu
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Medical Research, Beijing, China
| | | | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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2
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Fults DW, Taylor MD, Garzia L. Leptomeningeal dissemination: a sinister pattern of medulloblastoma growth. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019; 23:613-621. [PMID: 30771762 DOI: 10.3171/2018.11.peds18506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD) is the defining pattern of metastasis for medulloblastoma. Although LMD is responsible for virtually 100% of medulloblastoma deaths, it remains the least well-understood part of medulloblastoma pathogenesis. The fact that medulloblastomas rarely metastasize outside the CNS but rather spread almost exclusively to the spinal and intracranial leptomeninges has fostered the long-held belief that medulloblastoma cells spread directly through the CSF, not the bloodstream. In this paper the authors discuss selected molecules for which experimental evidence explains how the effects of each molecule on cell physiology contribute mechanistically to LMD. A model of medulloblastoma LMD is described, analogous to the invasion-metastasis cascade of hematogenous metastasis of carcinomas. The LMD cascade is based on the molecular themes that 1) transcription factors launch cell programs that mediate cell motility and invasiveness and maintain tumor cells in a stem-like state; 2) disseminating medulloblastoma cells escape multiple death threats by subverting apoptosis; and 3) inflammatory chemokine signaling promotes LMD by creating an oncogenic microenvironment. The authors also review recent experimental evidence that challenges the belief that CSF spread is the sole mechanism of LMD and reveal an alternative scheme in which medulloblastoma cells can enter the bloodstream and subsequently home to the leptomeninges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Fults
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Michael D Taylor
- 2Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Center, and Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Livia Garzia
- 3Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center and Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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3
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de Ruiter JR, Kas SM, Schut E, Adams DJ, Koudijs MJ, Wessels LFA, Jonkers J. Identifying transposon insertions and their effects from RNA-sequencing data. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:7064-7077. [PMID: 28575524 PMCID: PMC5499543 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Insertional mutagenesis using engineered transposons is a potent forward genetic screening technique used to identify cancer genes in mouse model systems. In the analysis of these screens, transposon insertion sites are typically identified by targeted DNA-sequencing and subsequently assigned to predicted target genes using heuristics. As such, these approaches provide no direct evidence that insertions actually affect their predicted targets or how transcripts of these genes are affected. To address this, we developed IM-Fusion, an approach that identifies insertion sites from gene-transposon fusions in standard single- and paired-end RNA-sequencing data. We demonstrate IM-Fusion on two separate transposon screens of 123 mammary tumors and 20 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, respectively. We show that IM-Fusion accurately identifies transposon insertions and their true target genes. Furthermore, by combining the identified insertion sites with expression quantification, we show that we can determine the effect of a transposon insertion on its target gene(s) and prioritize insertions that have a significant effect on expression. We expect that IM-Fusion will significantly enhance the accuracy of cancer gene discovery in forward genetic screens and provide initial insight into the biological effects of insertions on candidate cancer genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian R de Ruiter
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Sjors M Kas
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Schut
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - David J Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Marco J Koudijs
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk F A Wessels
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands.,Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, Delft 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
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4
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Suárez-Cabrera C, Quintana RM, Bravo A, Casanova ML, Page A, Alameda JP, Paramio JM, Maroto A, Salamanca J, Dupuy AJ, Ramírez A, Navarro M. A Transposon-based Analysis Reveals RASA1 Is Involved in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2017; 77:1357-1368. [PMID: 28108518 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-1586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RAS genes are mutated in 20% of human tumors, but these mutations are very rare in breast cancer. Here, we used a mouse model to generate tumors upon activation of a mutagenic T2Onc2 transposon via expression of a transposase driven by the keratin K5 promoter in a p53+/- background. These animals mainly developed mammary tumors, most of which had transposon insertions in one of two RASGAP genes, neurofibromin1 (Nf1) and RAS p21 protein activator (Rasa1). Immunohistochemical analysis of a collection of human breast tumors confirmed that low expression of RASA1 is frequent in basal (triple-negative) and estrogen receptor negative tumors. Bioinformatic analysis of human breast tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas database showed that although RASA1 mutations are rare, allelic loss is frequent, particularly in basal tumors (80%) and in association with TP53 mutation. Inactivation of RASA1 in MCF10A cells resulted in the appearance of a malignant phenotype in the context of mutated p53. Our results suggest that alterations in the Ras pathway due to the loss of negative regulators of RAS may be a common event in basal breast cancer. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1357-68. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Suárez-Cabrera
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rita M Quintana
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Bravo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - M Llanos Casanova
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angustias Page
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josefa P Alameda
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M Paramio
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alicia Maroto
- Department of Pathology, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Salamanca
- Department of Pathology, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adam J Dupuy
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Roy J. & Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Angel Ramírez
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Navarro
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)/CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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5
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Jenkins NC, Kalra RR, Dubuc A, Sivakumar W, Pedone CA, Wu X, Taylor MD, Fults DW. Genetic drivers of metastatic dissemination in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2:85. [PMID: 25059231 PMCID: PMC4149244 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-014-0085-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD), the metastatic spread of tumor cells via the cerebrospinal fluid to the brain and spinal cord, is an ominous prognostic sign for patients with the pediatric brain tumor medulloblastoma. The need to reduce the risk of LMD has driven the development of aggressive treatment regimens, which cause disabling neurotoxic side effects in long-term survivors. Transposon-mediated mutagenesis studies in mice have revealed numerous candidate metastasis genes. Understanding how these genes drive LMD will require functional assessment using in vivo and cell culture models of medulloblastoma. We analyzed two genes that were sites of frequent transposon insertion and highly expressed in human medulloblastomas: Arnt (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator) and Gdi2 (GDP dissociation inhibitor 2). Here we show that ectopic expression of Arnt and Gdi2 promoted LMD in mice bearing Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced medulloblastomas. We overexpressed Arnt and Gdi2 in a human medulloblastoma cell line (DAOY) and an immortalized, nontransformed cell line derived from mouse granule neuron precursors (SHH-NPD) and quantified migration, invasiveness, and anchorage-independent growth, cell traits that are associated with metastatic competence in carcinomas. In SHH-NPD cells. Arnt and Gdi2 stimulated all three traits. In DAOY cells, Arnt had the same effects, but Gdi2 stimulated invasiveness only. These results support a mechanism whereby Arnt and Gdi2 cause cells to detach from the primary tumor mass by increasing cell motility and invasiveness. By conferring to tumor cells the ability to proliferate without surface attachment, Arnt and Gdi2 favor the formation of stable colonies of cells capable of seeding the leptomeninges.
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6
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Ranzani M, Annunziato S, Adams DJ, Montini E. Cancer gene discovery: exploiting insertional mutagenesis. Mol Cancer Res 2013; 11:1141-58. [PMID: 23928056 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-13-0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Insertional mutagenesis has been used as a functional forward genetics screen for the identification of novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers. Different insertional mutagens have been successfully used to reveal new cancer genes. For example, retroviruses are integrating viruses with the capacity to induce the deregulation of genes in the neighborhood of the insertion site. Retroviruses have been used for more than 30 years to identify cancer genes in the hematopoietic system and mammary gland. Similarly, another tool that has revolutionized cancer gene discovery is the cut-and-paste transposons. These DNA elements have been engineered to contain strong promoters and stop cassettes that may function to perturb gene expression upon integration proximal to genes. In addition, complex mouse models characterized by tissue-restricted activity of transposons have been developed to identify oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that control the development of a wide range of solid tumor types, extending beyond those tissues accessible using retrovirus-based approaches. Most recently, lentiviral vectors have appeared on the scene for use in cancer gene screens. Lentiviral vectors are replication-defective integrating vectors that have the advantage of being able to infect nondividing cells, in a wide range of cell types and tissues. In this review, we describe the various insertional mutagens focusing on their advantages/limitations, and we discuss the new and promising tools that will improve the insertional mutagenesis screens of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ranzani
- San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
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7
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Łastowska M, Al-Afghani H, Al-Balool HH, Sheth H, Mercer E, Coxhead JM, Redfern CPF, Peters H, Burt AD, Santibanez-Koref M, Bacon CM, Chesler L, Rust AG, Adams DJ, Williamson D, Clifford SC, Jackson MS. Identification of a neuronal transcription factor network involved in medulloblastoma development. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2013; 1:35. [PMID: 24252690 PMCID: PMC3893591 DOI: 10.1186/2051-5960-1-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastomas, the most frequent malignant brain tumours affecting children, comprise at least 4 distinct clinicogenetic subgroups. Aberrant sonic hedgehog (SHH) signalling is observed in approximately 25% of tumours and defines one subgroup. Although alterations in SHH pathway genes (e.g. PTCH1, SUFU) are observed in many of these tumours, high throughput genomic analyses have identified few other recurring mutations. Here, we have mutagenised the Ptch+/- murine tumour model using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to identify additional genes and pathways involved in SHH subgroup medulloblastoma development. RESULTS Mutagenesis significantly increased medulloblastoma frequency and identified 17 candidate cancer genes, including orthologs of genes somatically mutated (PTEN, CREBBP) or associated with poor outcome (PTEN, MYT1L) in the human disease. Strikingly, these candidate genes were enriched for transcription factors (p=2x10-5), the majority of which (6/7; Crebbp, Myt1L, Nfia, Nfib, Tead1 and Tgif2) were linked within a single regulatory network enriched for genes associated with a differentiated neuronal phenotype. Furthermore, activity of this network varied significantly between the human subgroups, was associated with metastatic disease, and predicted poor survival specifically within the SHH subgroup of tumours. Igf2, previously implicated in medulloblastoma, was the most differentially expressed gene in murine tumours with network perturbation, and network activity in both mouse and human tumours was characterised by enrichment for multiple gene-sets indicating increased cell proliferation, IGF signalling, MYC target upregulation, and decreased neuronal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data support a model of medulloblastoma development in SB-mutagenised Ptch+/- mice which involves disruption of a novel transcription factor network leading to Igf2 upregulation, proliferation of GNPs, and tumour formation. Moreover, our results identify rational therapeutic targets for SHH subgroup tumours, alongside prognostic biomarkers for the identification of poor-risk SHH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Łastowska
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
- Department of Pathology, Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Av.
Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hani Al-Afghani
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Haya H Al-Balool
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Harsh Sheth
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Emma Mercer
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London
School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London,
Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jonathan M Coxhead
- NewGene Limited, Bioscience Building, International Centre for Life,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP, UK
| | - Chris PF Redfern
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Heiko Peters
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Alastair D Burt
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, William Leech Building, Newcastle University,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, South Australia SA 5045, Australia
| | - Mauro Santibanez-Koref
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Chris M Bacon
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Louis Chesler
- Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer
Research & The Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Alistair G Rust
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10
1HH, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10
1HH, UK
| | - Daniel Williamson
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Michael S Jackson
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
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8
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Mumert M, Dubuc A, Wu X, Northcott PA, Chin SS, Pedone CA, Taylor MD, Fults DW. Functional genomics identifies drivers of medulloblastoma dissemination. Cancer Res 2012; 72:4944-53. [PMID: 22875024 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-1629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastomas are malignant brain tumors that arise in the cerebellum in children and disseminate via the cerebrospinal fluid to the leptomeningeal spaces of the brain and spinal cord. Challenged by the poor prognosis for patients with metastatic dissemination, pediatric oncologists have developed aggressive treatment protocols, combining surgery, craniospinal radiation, and high-dose chemotherapy, that often cause disabling neurotoxic effects in long-term survivors. Insights into the genetic control of medulloblastoma dissemination have come from transposon insertion mutagenesis studies. Mobilizing the Sleeping Beauty transposon in cerebellar neural progenitor cells caused widespread dissemination of typically nonmetastatic medulloblastomas in Patched(+/-) mice, in which Shh signaling is hyperactive. Candidate metastasis genes were identified by sequencing the insertion sites and then mapping these sequences back to the mouse genome. To determine whether genes located at transposon insertion sites directly caused medulloblastomas to disseminate, we overexpressed candidate genes in Nestin(+) neural progenitors in the cerebella of mice by retroviral transfer in combination with Shh. We show here that ectopic expression of Eras, Lhx1, Ccrk, and Akt shifted the in vivo growth characteristics of Shh-induced medulloblastomas from a localized pattern to a disseminated pattern in which tumor cells seeded the leptomeningeal spaces of the brain and spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mumert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
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9
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Howell VM. Sleeping beauty--a mouse model for all cancers? Cancer Lett 2011; 317:1-8. [PMID: 22079740 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 11/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Sleeping Beauty (SB) is a genetically engineered insertional mutagenesis system. Its ability to rapidly induce cancer in SB-transgenic mice as well as the ease of identification of the mutated genes suggest important roles for SB in the discovery of novel cancer genes as well as the generation of models of human cancers where none currently exist. The range of SB-related tumors extends from haematopoietic to solid cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma. This review follows the refinement of SB for different cancers and assesses its potential as a model for all cancers and a tool for cancer gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viive M Howell
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, E25, Level 9, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
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10
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March HN, Rust AG, Wright NA, Hoeve JT, de Ridder J, Eldridge M, van der Weyden L, Berns A, Gadiot J, Uren A, Kemp R, Arends MJ, Wessels LFA, Winton DJ, Adams DJ. Insertional mutagenesis identifies multiple networks of cooperating genes driving intestinal tumorigenesis. Nat Genet 2011; 43:1202-9. [PMID: 22057237 PMCID: PMC3233530 DOI: 10.1038/ng.990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of colorectal cancer suggests the involvement of many genes. To identify new drivers of intestinal cancer, we performed insertional mutagenesis using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system in mice carrying germline or somatic Apc mutations. By analyzing common insertion sites (CISs) isolated from 446 tumors, we identified many hundreds of candidate cancer drivers. Comparison to human data sets suggested that 234 CIS-targeted genes are also dysregulated in human colorectal cancers. In addition, we found 183 CIS-containing genes that are candidate Wnt targets and showed that 20 CISs-containing genes are newly discovered modifiers of canonical Wnt signaling. We also identified mutations associated with a subset of tumors containing an expanded number of Paneth cells, a hallmark of deregulated Wnt signaling, and genes associated with more severe dysplasia included those encoding members of the FGF signaling cascade. Some 70 genes had co-occurrence of CIS pairs, clustering into 38 sub-networks that may regulate tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Nikki March
- Cancer Research-UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 ORE, UK
| | - Alistair G. Rust
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1HH, UK
| | - Nicholas A. Wright
- Histopathology Unit, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London WC2A 3PX, UK
| | - Jelle ten Hoeve
- Bioinformatics and Statistics Group, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen de Ridder
- Bioinformatics and Statistics Group, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Delft Bioinformatics Laboratory, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew Eldridge
- Cancer Research-UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 ORE, UK
| | - Louise van der Weyden
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1HH, UK
| | - Anton Berns
- Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jules Gadiot
- Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anthony Uren
- Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richard Kemp
- Cancer Research-UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 ORE, UK
| | - Mark J. Arends
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Lodewyk F. A. Wessels
- Bioinformatics and Statistics Group, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Delft Bioinformatics Laboratory, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Douglas J. Winton
- Cancer Research-UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 ORE, UK
| | - David J. Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1HH, UK
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11
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Beck CR, Garcia-Perez JL, Badge RM, Moran JV. LINE-1 elements in structural variation and disease. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2011; 12:187-215. [PMID: 21801021 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-082509-141802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 394] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The completion of the human genome reference sequence ushered in a new era for the study and discovery of human transposable elements. It now is undeniable that transposable elements, historically dismissed as junk DNA, have had an instrumental role in sculpting the structure and function of our genomes. In particular, long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) and short interspersed elements (SINEs) continue to affect our genome, and their movement can lead to sporadic cases of disease. Here, we briefly review the types of transposable elements present in the human genome and their mechanisms of mobility. We next highlight how advances in DNA sequencing and genomic technologies have enabled the discovery of novel retrotransposons in individual genomes. Finally, we discuss how L1-mediated retrotransposition events impact human genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Beck
- Department of Human Genetics, University of MIchigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5618, USA.
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12
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Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse models have significantly contributed to our understanding of cancer biology. They have proven to be useful in validating gene functions, identifying novel cancer genes and tumor biomarkers, gaining insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying tumor initiation and multistage processes of tumorigenesis, and providing better clinical models in which to test novel therapeutic strategies. However, mice still have significant limitations in modeling human cancer, including species-specific differences and inaccurate recapitulation of de novo human tumor development. Future challenges in mouse modeling include the generation of clinically relevant mouse models that recapitulate the molecular, cellular, and genomic events of human cancers and clinical response as well as the development of technologies that allow for efficient in vivo imaging and high-throughput screening in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Joo Cheon
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA
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13
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Grabundzija I, Izsvák Z, Ivics Z. Insertional engineering of chromosomes with Sleeping Beauty transposition: an overview. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 738:69-85. [PMID: 21431720 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-099-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Novel genetic tools and mutagenesis strategies based on the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposable element are currently under development with a vision to link primary DNA sequence information to gene functions in vertebrate models. By virtue of its inherent capacity to insert into DNA, the SB transposon can be developed into powerful tools for chromosomal manipulations. Mutagenesis screens based on SB have numerous advantages including high throughput and easy identification of mutated alleles. Forward genetic approaches based on insertional mutagenesis by engineered SB transposons have the advantage of providing insight into genetic networks and pathways based on phenotype. Indeed, the SB transposon has become a highly instrumental tool to induce tumors in experimental animals in a tissue-specific -manner with the aim of uncovering the genetic basis of diverse cancers. Here, we describe a battery of mutagenic cassettes that can be applied in conjunction with SB transposon vectors to mutagenize genes, and highlight versatile experimental strategies for the generation of engineered chromosomes for loss-of-function as well as gain-of-function mutagenesis for functional gene annotation in vertebrate models.
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14
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Ivics Z, Izsvák Z. The expanding universe of transposon technologies for gene and cell engineering. Mob DNA 2010; 1:25. [PMID: 21138556 PMCID: PMC3016246 DOI: 10.1186/1759-8753-1-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Accepted: 12/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements can be viewed as natural DNA transfer vehicles that, similar to integrating viruses, are capable of efficient genomic insertion. The mobility of class II transposable elements (DNA transposons) can be controlled by conditionally providing the transposase component of the transposition reaction. Thus, a DNA of interest (be it a fluorescent marker, a small hairpin (sh)RNA expression cassette, a mutagenic gene trap or a therapeutic gene construct) cloned between the inverted repeat sequences of a transposon-based vector can be used for stable genomic insertion in a regulated and highly efficient manner. This methodological paradigm opened up a number of avenues for genome manipulations in vertebrates, including transgenesis for the generation of transgenic cells in tissue culture, the production of germline transgenic animals for basic and applied research, forward genetic screens for functional gene annotation in model species, and therapy of genetic disorders in humans. Sleeping Beauty (SB) was the first transposon shown to be capable of gene transfer in vertebrate cells, and recent results confirm that SB supports a full spectrum of genetic engineering including transgenesis, insertional mutagenesis, and therapeutic somatic gene transfer both ex vivo and in vivo. The first clinical application of the SB system will help to validate both the safety and efficacy of this approach. In this review, we describe the major transposon systems currently available (with special emphasis on SB), discuss the various parameters and considerations pertinent to their experimental use, and highlight the state of the art in transposon technology in diverse genetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Ivics
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Bender AM, Collier LS, Rodriguez FJ, Tieu C, Larson JD, Halder C, Mahlum E, Kollmeyer TM, Akagi K, Sarkar G, Largaespada DA, Jenkins RB. Sleeping beauty-mediated somatic mutagenesis implicates CSF1 in the formation of high-grade astrocytomas. Cancer Res 2010; 70:3557-65. [PMID: 20388773 PMCID: PMC2862088 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-4674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system has been used as an insertional mutagenesis tool to identify novel cancer genes. To identify glioma-associated genes, we evaluated tumor formation in the brain tissue from 117 transgenic mice that had undergone constitutive SB-mediated transposition. Upon analysis, 21 samples (18%) contained neoplastic tissue with features of high-grade astrocytomas. These tumors expressed glial markers and were histologically similar to human glioma. Genomic DNA from SB-induced astrocytoma tissue was extracted and transposon insertion sites were identified. Insertions in the growth factor gene Csf1 were found in 13 of the 21 tumors (62%), clustered in introns 5 and 8. Using reverse transcription-PCR, we documented increased Csf1 RNAs in tumor versus adjacent normal tissue, with the identification of transposon-terminated Csf1 mRNAs in astrocytomas with SB insertions in intron 8. Analysis of human glioblastomas revealed increased levels of Csf1 RNA and protein. Together, these results indicate that SB-insertional mutagenesis can identify high-grade astrocytoma-associated genes and they imply an important role for CSF1 in the development of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Bender
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Lara S. Collier
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison,WI 53705
| | - Fausto J. Rodriguez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Christina Tieu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Jon D. Larson
- The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Genome Engineering and Masonic Cancer Center,University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Chandralekha Halder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Eric Mahlum
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Thomas M. Kollmeyer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Keiko Akagi
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Gobinda Sarkar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - David A. Largaespada
- The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Genome Engineering and Masonic Cancer Center,University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Robert B. Jenkins
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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16
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Yergeau DA, Kelley CM, Zhu H, Kuliyev E, Mead PE. Transposon transgenesis in Xenopus. Methods 2010; 51:92-100. [PMID: 20211730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2010.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Revised: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 03/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposon-mediated integration strategies in Xenopus offer simple and robust methods for the generation of germline transgenic animals. Co-injection of fertilized one-cell embryos with plasmid DNA harboring a transposon transgene and synthetic mRNA encoding the cognate transposase enzyme results in mosaic integration of the transposon at early cleavage stages that are frequently passed through the germline in the adult animal. Micro-injection of fertilized embryos is a routine procedure used by many laboratories that use Xenopus as a developmental model and, as such, the transposon transgenesis method can be performed without additional equipment or specialized methodologies. The methods for injecting Xenopus embryos are well documented in the literature so here we provide a step-by-step guide to other aspects of transposon transgenesis, including screening mosaic founders for germline transmission of the transgene and general husbandry considerations related to management of populations of transgenic frogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Yergeau
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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17
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Abstract
Germ line gene transposition technology has been used to generate "libraries" of flies and worms carrying genomewide mutations. Phenotypic screening and DNA sequencing of such libraries provide functional information resulting from insertional events in target genes. There is also a great need to have a fast and efficient way to generate mouse mutants in vivo to model developmental defects and human diseases. Here we describe an optimized mammalian germ line transposition system active during early mouse spermatogenesis using the Minos transposon. Transposon-positive progeny carry on average more than 2 new transpositions, and 45 to 100% of the progeny carry an insertion in a gene. The optimized Minos-based system was tested in a small rapid dominant functional screen to identify mutated genes likely to cause measurable cardiovascular "disease" phenotypes in progeny/embryos. Importantly this system allows rapid screening for modifier genes.
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18
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Fisher EMC, Lana-Elola E, Watson SD, Vassiliou G, Tybulewicz VLJ. New approaches for modelling sporadic genetic disease in the mouse. Dis Model Mech 2010; 2:446-53. [PMID: 19726804 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.001644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporadic diseases, which occur as single, scattered cases, are among the commonest causes of human morbidity and death. They result in a variety of diseases, including many cancers, premature aging, neurodegeneration and skeletal defects. They are often pathogenetically complex, involving a mosaic distribution of affected cells, and are difficult to model in the mouse. Faithful models of sporadic diseases require innovative forms of genetic manipulation to accurately recreate their initiation and pathogenesis. Such modelling is crucial to understanding these diseases and, by extension, to the development of therapeutic approaches to treat them. This article focuses on sporadic diseases with a genetic aetiology, the challenges they pose to biomedical researchers, and the different current and developing approaches used to model such disorders in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N3BG, UK.
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19
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Dupuy AJ, Rogers LM, Kim J, Nannapaneni K, Starr TK, Liu P, Largaespada DA, Scheetz TE, Jenkins NA, Copeland NG. A modified sleeping beauty transposon system that can be used to model a wide variety of human cancers in mice. Cancer Res 2009; 69:8150-6. [PMID: 19808965 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-1135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer therapeutics stress the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving tumor formation. This can be accomplished by obtaining a more complete description of the genes that contribute to cancer. We previously described an approach using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system to model hematopoietic malignancies in mice. Here, we describe modifications of the SB system that provide additional flexibility in generating mouse models of cancer. First, we describe a Cre-inducible SBase allele, RosaSBase(LsL), that allows the restriction of transposon mutagenesis to a specific tissue of interest. This allele was used to generate a model of germinal center B-cell lymphoma by activating SBase expression with an Aid-Cre allele. In a second approach, a novel transposon was generated, T2/Onc3, in which the CMV enhancer/chicken beta-actin promoter drives oncogene expression. When combined with ubiquitous SBase expression, the T2/Onc3 transposon produced nearly 200 independent tumors of more than 20 different types in a cohort of 62 mice. Analysis of transposon insertion sites identified novel candidate genes, including Zmiz1 and Rian, involved in squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. These novel alleles provide additional tools for the SB system and provide some insight into how this mutagenesis system can be manipulated to model cancer in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Dupuy
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Center for Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
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20
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Damasceno JD, Beverley SM, Tosi LRO. A transposon toolkit for gene transfer and mutagenesis in protozoan parasites. Genetica 2009; 138:301-11. [PMID: 19763844 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-009-9406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2009] [Accepted: 08/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites affect millions of people around the world. Treatment and control of these diseases are complicated partly due to the intricate biology of these organisms. The interactions of species of Plasmodium, Leishmania and trypanosomes with their hosts are mediated by an unusual control of gene expression that is not fully understood. The availability of the genome sequence of these protozoa sets the stage for using more comprehensive, genome-wide strategies to study gene function. Transposons are effective tools for the systematic introduction of genetic alterations and different transposition systems have been adapted to study gene function in these human pathogens. A mariner transposon toolkit for use in vivo or in vitro in Leishmania parasites has been developed and can be used in a variety of applications. These modified mariner elements not only permit the inactivation of genes, but also mediate the rescue of translational gene fusions, bringing a major contribution to the investigation of Leishmania gene function. The piggyBac and Tn5 transposons have also been shown to mobilize across Plasmodium spp. genomes circumventing the current limitations in the genetic manipulation of these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeziel D Damasceno
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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21
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Largaespada DA. Transposon-mediated mutagenesis of somatic cells in the mouse for cancer gene identification. Methods 2009; 49:282-6. [PMID: 19607923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2009.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2008] [Revised: 06/18/2009] [Accepted: 07/06/2009] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To successfully treat cancer we will likely need a much more detailed understanding of the genes and pathways meaningfully altered in individual cancer cases. One method for achieving this goal is to derive cancers in model organisms using unbiased forward genetic screens that allow cancer gene candidate discovery. We have developed a method using a "cut-and-paste" DNA transposon system called Sleeping Beauty (SB) to perform forward genetic screens for cancer genes in mice. Although the approach is conceptually similar to the use of replication competent retroviruses for cancer gene identification, the SB system promises to allow such screens in tissues previously not amenable to forward genetic screens such as the gastrointestinal tract, brain, and liver. This article describes the strains useful for SB-based screens for cancer genes in mice and how they are deployed in an experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Largaespada
- Masonic Cancer Center University of Minnesota, Department of Genetics, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Genome Engineering, 6-160 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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22
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Cancer gene discovery in mouse and man. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2009; 1796:140-61. [PMID: 19285540 PMCID: PMC2756404 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2009.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2009] [Revised: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 03/05/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The elucidation of the human and mouse genome sequence and developments in high-throughput genome analysis, and in computational tools, have made it possible to profile entire cancer genomes. In parallel with these advances mouse models of cancer have evolved into a powerful tool for cancer gene discovery. Here we discuss the approaches that may be used for cancer gene identification in both human and mouse and discuss how a cross-species 'oncogenomics' approach to cancer gene discovery represents a powerful strategy for finding genes that drive tumourigenesis.
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23
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Touw IP, Erkeland SJ. Retroviral insertion mutagenesis in mice as a comparative oncogenomics tool to identify disease genes in human leukemia. Mol Ther 2008; 15:13-9. [PMID: 17164770 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Retroviral insertion mutagenesis has recently received much attention because of its adverse effects in the application of retroviral vector-based gene therapy, resulting in leukemia in certain patients. At the same time, retroviral mutagenesis in mice is being considered a powerful forward genetic strategy to identify disease genes involved in cancer. The publication of the mouse genome sequence and the development of high-throughput genomic approaches have given a further boost to this rapidly evolving field. The increasing numbers of new potential oncogenes identified in retroviral screens have given a valuable basis for a better understanding of cancer related pathways in mice. Important challenges that now lie ahead of us are (i) to determine the relevance and causal relationship of these genes with various types of human cancer (ii) to develop strategies to identify tumor suppressor genes on a large scale, (iii) to place the disease genes into regulatory networks to better understand their role in the complex pathogenesis of cancer, and (iv) to determine their value for diagnosis refinement and therapeutic target intervention in human disease. In this review, we will give a brief update of the current state-of-the-art and thoughts concerning these issues. We will specifically focus on the value of employing retroviral insertion mutagenesis in mice and gene expression profiling in man in the context of acute myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo P Touw
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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24
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Largaespada DA, Collier LS. Transposon-mediated mutagenesis in somatic cells: identification of transposon-genomic DNA junctions. Methods Mol Biol 2008; 435:95-108. [PMID: 18370070 PMCID: PMC3517914 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-232-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis for tumor formation is crucial for treating cancer. Forward genetic screens using insertional mutagenesis technologies have identified many important tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in mouse models of human cancer. Traditionally, retroviruses have been used for this purpose, allowing the identification of genes that can cause various forms of leukemia or lymphoma with murine leukemia viruses or mammary cancer with mouse mammary tumor viruses. Recently, the Sleeping Beauty transposon system has emerged as a tool for cancer gene discovery in mouse models of human cancer. Transposons mobilized in the mouse soma can insertionally mutate cancer genes, and the transposon itself serves as a molecular "tag," which facilitates candidate cancer gene identification. We provide an overview of some general issues related to use of Sleeping Beauty for cancer genetic studies and present here the polymerase chain reaction-based method for cloning transposon-tagged sequences from tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Largaespada
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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25
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Collier LS, Largaespada DA. Transposons for cancer gene discovery: Sleeping Beauty and beyond. Genome Biol 2007; 8 Suppl 1:S15. [PMID: 18047692 PMCID: PMC2106843 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of Sleeping Beauty transposons as somatic mutagens to discover cancer genes in hematopoietic tumors and sarcomas has been documented. Here, we discuss the future of Sleeping Beauty for cancer genetic studies and the potential use of additional transposable elements for somatic mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara S Collier
- The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, The Cancer Center, The University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Church St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
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26
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Hackett CS, Geurts AM, Hackett PB. Predicting preferential DNA vector insertion sites: implications for functional genomics and gene therapy. Genome Biol 2007; 8 Suppl 1:S12. [PMID: 18047689 PMCID: PMC2106846 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral and transposon vectors have been employed in gene therapy as well as functional genomics studies. However, the goals of gene therapy and functional genomics are entirely different; gene therapists hope to avoid altering endogenous gene expression (especially the activation of oncogenes), whereas geneticists do want to alter expression of chromosomal genes. The odds of either outcome depend on a vector's preference to integrate into genes or control regions, and these preferences vary between vectors. Here we discuss the relative strengths of DNA vectors over viral vectors, and review methods to overcome barriers to delivery inherent to DNA vectors. We also review the tendencies of several classes of retroviral and transposon vectors to target DNA sequences, genes, and genetic elements with respect to the balance between insertion preferences and oncogenic selection. Theoretically, knowing the variables that affect integration for various vectors will allow researchers to choose the vector with the most utility for their specific purposes. The three principle benefits from elucidating factors that affect preferences in integration are as follows: in gene therapy, it allows assessment of the overall risks for activating an oncogene or inactivating a tumor suppressor gene that could lead to severe adverse effects years after treatment; in genomic studies, it allows one to discern random from selected integration events; and in gene therapy as well as functional genomics, it facilitates design of vectors that are better targeted to specific sequences, which would be a significant advance in the art of transgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Hackett
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Room U441K, Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, California 94143-0663, USA
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27
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de Ridder J, Kool J, Uren A, Bot J, Wessels L, Reinders M. Co-occurrence analysis of insertional mutagenesis data reveals cooperating oncogenes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 23:i133-41. [PMID: 17646289 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btm202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
MOTIVATION Cancers are caused by an accumulation of multiple independent mutations that collectively deregulate cellular pathways, e.g. such as those regulating cell division and cell-death. The publicly available Retroviral Tagged Cancer Gene Database (RTCGD) contains the data of many insertional mutagenesis screens, in which the virally induced mutations result in tumor formation in mice. The insertion loci therefore indicate the location of putative cancer genes. Additionally, the presence of multiple independent insertions within one tumor hints towards a cooperation between the insertionally mutated genes. In this study we focus on the detection of statistically significant co-mutations. RESULTS We propose a two-dimensional Gaussian Kernel Convolution method (2DGKC), a computational technique that identifies the cooperating mutations in insertional mutagenesis data. We define the Common Co-occurrence of Insertions (CCI), signifying the co-mutations that are statistically significant across all different screens in the RTCGD. Significance estimates are made on multiple scales, and the results visualized in a scale space, thereby providing valuable extra information on the putative cooperation. The multidimensional analysis of the insertion data results in the discovery of 86 statistically significant co-mutations, indicating the presence of cooperating oncogenes that play a role in tumor development. Since oncogenes may cooperate with several members of a parallel pathway, we combined the co-occurrence data with gene family information to find significant cooperations between oncogenes and families of genes. We show, for instance, the interchangeable cooperation of Myc insertions with insertions in the Pim family. AVAILABILITY A list of the resulting CCIs is available at: http://ict.ewi.tudelft.nl/~jeroen/CCI/CCI_list.txt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen de Ridder
- Information and Communication Theory Group, Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
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28
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Zhu YT, Qi C, Hu L, Zhu YJ. Efficient generation of random chromosome deletions. Biotechniques 2007; 42:572, 574, 576. [PMID: 17515194 DOI: 10.2144/000112458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Tony Zhu
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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29
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de Ridder J, Uren A, Kool J, Reinders M, Wessels L. Detecting statistically significant common insertion sites in retroviral insertional mutagenesis screens. PLoS Comput Biol 2006; 2:e166. [PMID: 17154714 PMCID: PMC1676030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0020166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2006] [Accepted: 10/24/2006] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Retroviral insertional mutagenesis screens, which identify genes involved in tumor development in mice, have yielded a substantial number of retroviral integration sites, and this number is expected to grow substantially due to the introduction of high-throughput screening techniques. The data of various retroviral insertional mutagenesis screens are compiled in the publicly available Retroviral Tagged Cancer Gene Database (RTCGD). Integrally analyzing these screens for the presence of common insertion sites (CISs, i.e., regions in the genome that have been hit by viral insertions in multiple independent tumors significantly more than expected by chance) requires an approach that corrects for the increased probability of finding false CISs as the amount of available data increases. Moreover, significance estimates of CISs should be established taking into account both the noise, arising from the random nature of the insertion process, as well as the bias, stemming from preferential insertion sites present in the genome and the data retrieval methodology. We introduce a framework, the kernel convolution (KC) framework, to find CISs in a noisy and biased environment using a predefined significance level while controlling the family-wise error (FWE) (the probability of detecting false CISs). Where previous methods use one, two, or three predetermined fixed scales, our method is capable of operating at any biologically relevant scale. This creates the possibility to analyze the CISs in a scale space by varying the width of the CISs, providing new insights in the behavior of CISs across multiple scales. Our method also features the possibility of including models for background bias. Using simulated data, we evaluate the KC framework using three kernel functions, the Gaussian, triangular, and rectangular kernel function. We applied the Gaussian KC to the data from the combined set of screens in the RTCGD and found that 53% of the CISs do not reach the significance threshold in this combined setting. Still, with the FWE under control, application of our method resulted in the discovery of eight novel CISs, which each have a probability less than 5% of being false detections. A potent method for the identification of novel cancer genes is retroviral insertional mutagenesis. Mice infected with slow transforming retroviruses develop tumors because the virus inserts randomly in their genome and mutates cancer genes. The regions in the genome that are mutated in multiple independent tumors are likely to contain genes involved in tumorigenesis. As the size of these datasets increases, conventional methods to detect these so-called common insertion sites (CISs) no longer suffice, and an approach is required that can control the error independent of the dataset size. The authors introduce a framework that uses a technique called kernel density estimation to find the regions in the genome that show a significant increase in insertion density. This method is implemented over a range of scales, allowing the data to be evaluated at any relevant scale. The authors demonstrate that the framework is capable of compensating for the inherent biases in the data, such as preference for retroviruses to insert near transcriptional start sites. By better balancing the error, they are able to show that from the 361 published CISs, 150 can be identified that have a low probability of being a false detection. In addition, they discover eight novel CISs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen de Ridder
- Information and Communication Theory Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony Uren
- Division of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Kool
- Division of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Reinders
- Information and Communication Theory Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (MR); (LW)
| | - Lodewyk Wessels
- Information and Communication Theory Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (MR); (LW)
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Wu SCY, Meir YJJ, Coates CJ, Handler AM, Pelczar P, Moisyadi S, Kaminski JM. piggyBac is a flexible and highly active transposon as compared to sleeping beauty, Tol2, and Mos1 in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:15008-13. [PMID: 17005721 PMCID: PMC1622771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0606979103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A nonviral vector for highly efficient site-specific integration would be desirable for many applications in transgenesis, including gene therapy. In this study we directly compared the genomic integration efficiencies of piggyBac, hyperactive Sleeping Beauty (SB11), Tol2, and Mos1 in four mammalian cell lines. piggyBac demonstrated significantly higher transposition activity in all cell lines whereas Mos1 had no activity. Furthermore, piggyBac transposase coupled to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain retains transposition activity whereas similarly manipulated gene products of Tol2 and SB11 were inactive. The high transposition activity of piggyBac and the flexibility for molecular modification of its transposase suggest the possibility of using it routinely for mammalian transgenesis.
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