Errant Cell Division Can Lead to Changes in Gene Activity, Study Finds
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by Rob Levy
August 2, 2023
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9 min
7 Key Takeaways
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1
Cancer cell genomes undergo mutations and epigenetic changes.
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2
Chromothripsis results from faulty cell division and creates genomic instability.
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3
Micronuclei can lead to gene silencing and affect gene expression.
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4
Modified Look-Seq2 allows analysis of RNA from daughter cells.
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5
Epigenetic changes can persist and vary across cell generations.
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6
Altered gene activity may enhance cancer cell survival and drug resistance.
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7
The study emphasizes the link between chromosomal instability and epigenetic changes.
Cancer cells exhibit a range of genomic alterations including mutations and changes in gene expression due to epigenetic modifications. Research by David Pellman, MD, and colleagues at Dana-Farber has uncovered a mechanism of chromothripsis, where chromosome bridges and micronuclei form during faulty cell division, leading to extensive DNA damage and altered gene activity. This study demonstrates that while some epigenetic changes can be inherited by daughter cells, many genes may also be silenced, allowing cancer cells to evolve and escape treatments.
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