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Shahrouzi P, Forouz F, Mathelier A, Kristensen VN, Duijf PHG. Copy number alterations: a catastrophic orchestration of the breast cancer genome. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:750-764. [PMID: 38772764 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) is a prevalent malignancy that predominantly affects women around the world. Somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) are tumor-specific amplifications or deletions of DNA segments that often drive BCa development and therapy resistance. Hence, the complex patterns of CNAs complement BCa classification systems. In addition, understanding the precise contributions of CNAs is essential for tailoring personalized treatment approaches. This review highlights how tumor evolution drives the acquisition of CNAs, which in turn shape the genomic landscapes of BCas. It also discusses advanced methodologies for identifying recurrent CNAs, studying CNAs in BCa and their clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parastoo Shahrouzi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Farzaneh Forouz
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anthony Mathelier
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway; Center for Bioinformatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vessela N Kristensen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology and Laboratory Science (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pascal H G Duijf
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biology, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.
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2
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La Grua A, Rao I, Susani L, Lucchini F, Raimondi E, Vezzoni P, Paulis M. Chromosome Transplantation: Opportunities and Limitations. Cells 2024; 13:666. [PMID: 38667281 PMCID: PMC11048979 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
There are thousands of rare genetic diseases that could be treated with classical gene therapy strategies such as the addition of the defective gene via viral or non-viral delivery or by direct gene editing. However, several genetic defects are too complex for these approaches. These "genomic mutations" include aneuploidies, intra and inter chromosomal rearrangements, large deletions, or inversion and copy number variations. Chromosome transplantation (CT) refers to the precise substitution of an endogenous chromosome with an exogenous one. By the addition of an exogenous chromosome and the concomitant elimination of the endogenous one, every genetic defect, irrespective of its nature, could be resolved. In the current review, we analyze the state of the art of this technique and discuss its possible application to human pathology. CT might not be limited to the treatment of human diseases. By working on sex chromosomes, we showed that female cells can be obtained from male cells, since chromosome-transplanted cells can lose either sex chromosome, giving rise to 46,XY or 46,XX diploid cells, a modification that could be exploited to obtain female gametes from male cells. Moreover, CT could be used in veterinary biology, since entire chromosomes containing an advantageous locus could be transferred to animals of zootechnical interest without altering their specific genetic background and the need for long and complex interbreeding. CT could also be useful to rescue extinct species if only male cells were available. Finally, the generation of "synthetic" cells could be achieved by repeated CT into a recipient cell. CT is an additional tool for genetic modification of mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela La Grua
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy;
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (I.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Ilaria Rao
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (I.R.); (L.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Lucia Susani
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (I.R.); (L.S.)
- UOS Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), CNR, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Franco Lucchini
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Elena Raimondi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Paolo Vezzoni
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (I.R.); (L.S.)
- UOS Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), CNR, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Marianna Paulis
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (I.R.); (L.S.)
- UOS Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), CNR, 20138 Milan, Italy
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3
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Hosea R, Hillary S, Naqvi S, Wu S, Kasim V. The two sides of chromosomal instability: drivers and brakes in cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:75. [PMID: 38553459 PMCID: PMC10980778 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01767-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of cancer and is associated with tumor cell malignancy. CIN triggers a chain reaction in cells leading to chromosomal abnormalities, including deviations from the normal chromosome number or structural changes in chromosomes. CIN arises from errors in DNA replication and chromosome segregation during cell division, leading to the formation of cells with abnormal number and/or structure of chromosomes. Errors in DNA replication result from abnormal replication licensing as well as replication stress, such as double-strand breaks and stalled replication forks; meanwhile, errors in chromosome segregation stem from defects in chromosome segregation machinery, including centrosome amplification, erroneous microtubule-kinetochore attachments, spindle assembly checkpoint, or defective sister chromatids cohesion. In normal cells, CIN is deleterious and is associated with DNA damage, proteotoxic stress, metabolic alteration, cell cycle arrest, and senescence. Paradoxically, despite these negative consequences, CIN is one of the hallmarks of cancer found in over 90% of solid tumors and in blood cancers. Furthermore, CIN could endow tumors with enhanced adaptation capabilities due to increased intratumor heterogeneity, thereby facilitating adaptive resistance to therapies; however, excessive CIN could induce tumor cells death, leading to the "just-right" model for CIN in tumors. Elucidating the complex nature of CIN is crucial for understanding the dynamics of tumorigenesis and for developing effective anti-tumor treatments. This review provides an overview of causes and consequences of CIN, as well as the paradox of CIN, a phenomenon that continues to perplex researchers. Finally, this review explores the potential of CIN-based anti-tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rendy Hosea
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- The 111 Project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Sharon Hillary
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- The 111 Project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Sumera Naqvi
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- The 111 Project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shourong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.
- The 111 Project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| | - Vivi Kasim
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.
- The 111 Project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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4
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Di Tommaso E, Giunta S. Dynamic interplay between human alpha-satellite DNA structure and centromere functions. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:130-140. [PMID: 37926668 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of genome stability relies on functional centromeres for correct chromosome segregation and faithful inheritance of the genetic information. The human centromere is the primary constriction within mitotic chromosomes made up of repetitive alpha-satellite DNA hierarchically organized in megabase-long arrays of near-identical higher order repeats (HORs). Centromeres are epigenetically specified by the presence of the centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENP-A, which enables the assembly of the kinetochore for microtubule attachment. Notably, centromeric DNA is faithfully inherited as intact haplotypes from the parents to the offspring without intervening recombination, yet, outside of meiosis, centromeres are akin to common fragile sites (CFSs), manifesting crossing-overs and ongoing sequence instability. Consequences of DNA changes within the centromere are just starting to emerge, with unclear effects on intra- and inter-generational inheritance driven by centromere's essential role in kinetochore assembly. Here, we review evidence of meiotic selection operating to mitigate centromere drive, as well as recent reports on centromere damage, recombination and repair during the mitotic cell division. We propose an antagonistic pleiotropy interpretation to reconcile centromere DNA instability as both driver of aneuploidy that underlies degenerative diseases, while also potentially necessary for the maintenance of homogenized HORs for centromere function. We attempt to provide a framework for this conceptual leap taking into consideration the structural interface of centromere-kinetochore interaction and present case scenarios for its malfunctioning. Finally, we offer an integrated working model to connect DNA instability, chromatin, and structural changes with functional consequences on chromosome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Di Tommaso
- Laboratory of Genome Evolution, Department of Biology & Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Simona Giunta
- Laboratory of Genome Evolution, Department of Biology & Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.
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5
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Bhatia S, Khanna KK, Duijf PHG. Targeting chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in cancer. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:210-224. [PMID: 38355324 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Cancer development and therapy resistance are driven by chromosomal instability (CIN), which causes chromosome gains and losses (i.e., aneuploidy) and structural chromosomal alterations. Technical limitations and knowledge gaps have delayed therapeutic targeting of CIN and aneuploidy in cancers. However, our toolbox for creating and studying aneuploidy in cell models has greatly expanded recently. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that seven conventional antimitotic chemotherapeutic drugs achieve clinical response by inducing CIN instead of mitotic arrest, although additional anticancer activities may also contribute in vivo. In this review, we discuss these recent developments. We also highlight new discoveries, which together show that 25 chromosome arm aneuploidies (CAAs) may be targetable by 36 drugs across 14 types of cancer. Collectively, these advances offer many new opportunities to improve cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health and Centre for Biomedical Technologies at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Kum Kum Khanna
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Pascal H G Duijf
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health and Centre for Biomedical Technologies at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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6
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Mazzagatti A, Engel JL, Ly P. Boveri and beyond: Chromothripsis and genomic instability from mitotic errors. Mol Cell 2024; 84:55-69. [PMID: 38029753 PMCID: PMC10842135 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Mitotic cell division is tightly monitored by checkpoints that safeguard the genome from instability. Failures in accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis can cause numerical aneuploidy, which was hypothesized by Theodor Boveri over a century ago to promote tumorigenesis. Recent interrogation of pan-cancer genomes has identified unexpected classes of chromosomal abnormalities, including complex rearrangements arising through chromothripsis. This process is driven by mitotic errors that generate abnormal nuclear structures that provoke extensive yet localized shattering of mis-segregated chromosomes. Here, we discuss emerging mechanisms underlying chromothripsis from micronuclei and chromatin bridges, as well as highlight how this mutational cascade converges on the DNA damage response. A fundamental understanding of these catastrophic processes will provide insight into how initial errors in mitosis can precipitate rapid cancer genome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Mazzagatti
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Justin L Engel
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Peter Ly
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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7
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Lakhani AA, Thompson SL, Sheltzer JM. Aneuploidy in human cancer: new tools and perspectives. Trends Genet 2023; 39:968-980. [PMID: 37778926 PMCID: PMC10715718 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome copy number imbalances, otherwise known as aneuploidies, are a common but poorly understood feature of cancer. Here, we describe recent advances in both detecting and manipulating aneuploidies that have greatly advanced our ability to study their role in tumorigenesis. In particular, new clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based techniques have been developed that allow the creation of isogenic cell lines with specific chromosomal changes, thereby facilitating experiments in genetically controlled backgrounds to uncover the consequences of aneuploidy. These approaches provide increasing evidence that aneuploidy is a key driver of cancer development and enable the identification of multiple dosage-sensitive genes encoded on aneuploid chromosomes. Consequently, measuring aneuploidy may inform clinical prognosis, while treatment strategies that target aneuploidy could represent a novel method to counter malignant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad A Lakhani
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring, Harbor, NY 11724, USA
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8
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Andrade JR, Gallagher AD, Maharaj J, McClelland SE. Disentangling the roles of aneuploidy, chromosomal instability and tumour heterogeneity in developing resistance to cancer therapies. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:28. [PMID: 37721639 PMCID: PMC10506951 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Aneuploidy is defined as the cellular state of having a number of chromosomes that deviates from a multiple of the normal haploid chromosome number of a given organism. Aneuploidy can be present in a static state: Down syndrome individuals stably maintain an extra copy of chromosome 21 in their cells. In cancer cells, however, aneuploidy is usually present in combination with chromosomal instability (CIN) which leads to a continual generation of new chromosomal alterations and the development of intratumour heterogeneity (ITH). The prevalence of cells with specific chromosomal alterations is further shaped by evolutionary selection, for example, during the administration of cancer therapies. Aneuploidy, CIN and ITH have each been individually associated with poor prognosis in cancer, and a wealth of evidence suggests they contribute, either alone or in combination, to cancer therapy resistance by providing a reservoir of potential resistant states, or the ability to rapidly evolve resistance. A full understanding of the contribution and interplay between aneuploidy, CIN and ITH is required to tackle therapy resistance in cancer patients. However, these characteristics often co-occur and are intrinsically linked, presenting a major challenge to defining their individual contributions. Moreover, their accurate measurement in both experimental and clinical settings is a technical hurdle. Here, we attempt to deconstruct the contribution of the individual and combined roles of aneuploidy, CIN and ITH to therapy resistance in cancer, and outline emerging approaches to measure and disentangle their roles as a step towards integrating these principles into cancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Reis Andrade
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M6BQ, England
| | - Annie Dinky Gallagher
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M6BQ, England
| | - Jovanna Maharaj
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M6BQ, England
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9
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Truong MA, Cané-Gasull P, Lens SMA. Modeling specific aneuploidies: from karyotype manipulations to biological insights. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:25. [PMID: 37640903 PMCID: PMC10462580 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09735-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
An abnormal chromosome number, or aneuploidy, underlies developmental disorders and is a common feature of cancer, with different cancer types exhibiting distinct patterns of chromosomal gains and losses. To understand how specific aneuploidies emerge in certain tissues and how they contribute to disease development, various methods have been developed to alter the karyotype of mammalian cells and mice. In this review, we provide an overview of both classic and novel strategies for inducing or selecting specific chromosomal gains and losses in human and murine cell systems. We highlight how these customized aneuploidy models helped expanding our knowledge of the consequences of specific aneuploidies to (cancer) cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- My Anh Truong
- Oncode Institute and Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paula Cané-Gasull
- Oncode Institute and Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne M A Lens
- Oncode Institute and Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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10
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Angrisani A, Fachinetti D. The KaryoCreate technology generates specific aneuploid karyotypes on demand. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100514. [PMID: 37426746 PMCID: PMC10326432 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
In a recent issue of Cell, Bosco et al. present an innovative methodology named KaryoCreate that allows the generation of chromosome-specific aneuploidy in human cells in order to investigate the ontogenesis and the multifaceted aspects of aneuploidy in physio-pathological contexts.
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11
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Tovini L, Johnson SC, Guscott MA, Andersen AM, Spierings DCJ, Wardenaar R, Foijer F, McClelland SE. Targeted assembly of ectopic kinetochores to induce chromosome-specific segmental aneuploidies. EMBO J 2023; 42:e111587. [PMID: 37063065 PMCID: PMC10183824 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells display persistent underlying chromosomal instability, with individual tumour types intriguingly exhibiting characteristic subsets of whole, and subchromosomal aneuploidies. Few methods to induce specific aneuploidies will exist, hampering investigation of functional consequences of recurrent aneuploidies, as well as the acute consequences of specific chromosome mis-segregation. We therefore investigated the possibility of sabotaging the mitotic segregation of specific chromosomes using nuclease-dead CRISPR-Cas9 (dCas9) as a cargo carrier to specific genomic loci. We recruited the kinetochore-nucleating domain of centromere protein CENP-T to assemble ectopic kinetochores either near the centromere of chromosome 9, or the telomere of chromosome 1. Ectopic kinetochore assembly led to increased chromosome instability and partial aneuploidy of the target chromosomes, providing the potential to induce specific chromosome mis-segregation events in a range of cell types. We also provide an analysis of putative endogenous repeats that could support ectopic kinetochore formation. Overall, our findings provide new insights into ectopic kinetochore biology and represent an important step towards investigating the role of specific aneuploidy and chromosome mis-segregation events in diseases associated with aneuploidy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah C Johnson
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational BiologyBarts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Molly A Guscott
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational BiologyBarts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Alexander M Andersen
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational BiologyBarts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Diana Carolina Johanna Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of AgeingUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - René Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of AgeingUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of AgeingUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sarah E McClelland
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational BiologyBarts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
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