scholarly journals The Origins and Consequences of Localized and Global Somatic Hypermutation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fouad Yousif ◽  
Stephenie D. Prokopec ◽  
Ren X. Sun ◽  
Fan Fan ◽  
Christopher M. Lalansingh ◽  
...  

AbstractCancer is a disease of the genome, but the dramatic inter-patient variability in mutation number is poorly understood. Tumours of the same type can differ by orders of magnitude in their mutation rate. To understand potential drivers and consequences of the underlying heterogeneity in mutation rate across tumours, we evaluated both local and global measures of mutation density: both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA breaks in 2,460 tumours of 38 cancer types. We find that SCNAs in thousands of genes are associated with elevated rates of point-mutations, while similarly point-mutation patterns in dozens of genes are associated with specific patterns of DNA double-stranded breaks. These candidate drivers of mutation density are enriched for known cancer drivers, and preferentially occur early in tumour evolution, appearing clonally in all cells of a tumour. To supplement this understanding of global mutation density, we developed and validated a tool called SeqKat to identify localized “rainstorms” of point-mutations (kataegis). We show that rates of kataegis differ by four orders of magnitude across tumour types, with malignant lymphomas showing the highest. Tumours with TP53 mutations were 2.6-times more likely to harbour a kataegic event than those without, and 239 SCNAs were associated with elevated rates of kataegis, including loss of the tumour-suppressor CDKN2A. We identify novel subtypes of kataegic events not associated with aberrant APOBEC activity, and find that these are localized to specific cellular regions, enriched for MYC-target genes. Kataegic events were associated with patient survival in some, but not all tumour types, highlighting a combination of global and tumour-type specific effects. Taken together, we reveal a landscape of genes driving localized and tumour-specific hyper-mutation, and reveal novel mutational processes at play in specific tumour types.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Economos ◽  
Rebecca K Delker ◽  
Pete Stavropoulos ◽  
F. Nina Papavasiliou

AbstractActivation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) initiates somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) in B lymphocytes by catalyzing the introduction of deoxyuracil: deoxyguanine mismatches into the DNA of the transcribed Ig locus. Repair pathways then process these mismatches to produce point mutations in the Ig variable region or double-stranded DNA breaks in the switch region followed by deletional recombination. It has been suggested that post-translational modifications on AID mediate a number of these different decisions, ranging from global targeting (Ig vs the genome), local targeting (variable vs switch region; transcribed vs non-transcribed strand) as well as process-appropriate DNA repair. Here we demonstrate that absence of RNF126, an E3 ligase shown to mono-ubiquitylate AID, results in a specific strand targeting defect in SHM, producing substantial G>C bias; strickingly, loss of RNF126 was also associated with tandem indels within the variable region (JH4 intron) but only a slight increase in the types of chromosomal translocations that are characteristic of deregulated AID. Conversely, these findings suggest that mono-ubiquitination of AID, likely in situ, is necessary for the proper removal of the protein from the non-transcribed strand, thus producing both optimal patterns of SHM and also limiting the number of indels within the target locus.


2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (11) ◽  
pp. 2585-2594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. McBride ◽  
Anna Gazumyan ◽  
Eileen M. Woo ◽  
Tanja A. Schwickert ◽  
Brian T. Chait ◽  
...  

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a mutator enzyme that initiates somatic mutation and class switch recombination in B lymphocytes by introducing uracil:guanine mismatches into DNA. Repair pathways process these mismatches to produce point mutations in the Ig variable region or double-stranded DNA breaks in the switch region DNA. However, AID can also produce off-target DNA damage, including mutations in oncogenes. Therefore, stringent regulation of AID is required for maintaining genomic stability during maturation of the antibody response. It has been proposed that AID phosphorylation at serine 38 (S38) regulates its activity, but this has not been tested in vivo. Using a combination of mass spectrometry and immunochemical approaches, we found that in addition to S38, AID is also phosphorylated at position threonine 140 (T140). Mutation of either S38 or T140 to alanine does not impact catalytic activity, but interferes with class switching and somatic hypermutation in vivo. This effect is particularly pronounced in haploinsufficient mice where AID levels are limited. Although S38 is equally important for both processes, T140 phosphorylation preferentially affects somatic mutation, suggesting that posttranslational modification might contribute to the choice between hypermutation and class switching.


Author(s):  
Ursula Storb ◽  
Hong Ming Shen ◽  
Nancy Michael ◽  
Nayun Kim

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes is a highly specific mechanism restricted to B lymphocytes during only a few cell generations. Data presented here suggest that transcription of the target genes is required, but not sufficient for SHM. Presumably, cis –acting elements, such as those present in the Ig enhancers, are required to target a mutator factor (MuF) to Ig and human BCL–6 genes. It is postulated that the MuF travels with the transcribing RNA polymerase and is deposited on the target gene when the polymerase pauses. Point mutations, and rare deletions and insertions, are created by the combined actions of MuF and certain DNA polymerases. A subset of the mutations is corrected during SHM by DNA mismatch repair.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heriberto D. Cerutti ◽  
Soujanya Akella ◽  
Xinrong Ma ◽  
Romana Bacova ◽  
Zachary Harmer ◽  
...  

Programmable site-specific nucleases, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), have allowed creation of valuable knockout mutations and targeted gene modifications in Chlamydomonas. However, in walled strains, present methods for editing genes lacking a selectable phenotype involve co-transfection of RNPs and exogenous double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) encoding a selectable marker gene. Repair of the double-stranded DNA breaks induced by the ribonucleoproteins is usually accompanied by genomic insertion of exogenous dsDNA fragments, hindering the recovery of precise, scarless mutations in target genes of interest. In this study, we tested whether co-targeting two genes by electroporation of pairs of CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs and single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) would facilitate the recovery of precise edits in a gene of interest (lacking a selectable phenotype) by selection for precise editing of another gene (creating a selectable marker) - in a process completely lacking exogenous dsDNA. We used PPX1 (encoding protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase) as the generated selectable marker, conferring resistance to oxyfluorfen, and identified precisely, scarless edited FTSY or WDTC1 genes in ~1% of the oxyfluorfen resistant colonies. Analysis of the target site sequences in edited mutants suggested that ssODNs were used as templates for DNA synthesis during homology directed repair, a process prone to replicative errors. The Chlamydomonas acetolactate synthase gene could also be efficiently edited to serve as an alternative selectable marker. This transgene-free strategy may allow creation of individual strains containing precise mutations in multiple target genes, to study complex cellular processes, pathways or structures.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soujanya Akella ◽  
Xinrong Ma ◽  
Romana Bacova ◽  
Zachary P Harmer ◽  
Martina Kolackova ◽  
...  

Abstract Programmable site-specific nucleases, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), have allowed creation of valuable knockout mutations and targeted gene modifications in Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). However, in walled strains, present methods for editing genes lacking a selectable phenotype involve co-transfection of RNPs and exogenous double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) encoding a selectable marker gene. Repair of the double-stranded DNA breaks induced by the ribonucleoproteins is usually accompanied by genomic insertion of exogenous dsDNA fragments, hindering the recovery of precise, scarless mutations in target genes of interest. Here, we tested whether co-targeting two genes by electroporation of pairs of CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs and single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) would facilitate the recovery of precise edits in a gene of interest (lacking a selectable phenotype) by selection for precise editing of another gene (creating a selectable marker) - in a process completely lacking exogenous dsDNA. We used PPX1 (encoding protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase) as the generated selectable marker, conferring resistance to oxyfluorfen, and identified precise edits in the homolog of bacterial ftsY or the WD and TetratriCopeptide repeats protein 1 (WDTC1) genes in ∼1% of the oxyfluorfen resistant colonies. Analysis of the target site sequences in edited mutants suggested that ssODNs were used as templates for DNA synthesis during homology directed repair, a process prone to replicative errors. The Chlamydomonas acetolactate synthase gene could also be efficiently edited to serve as an alternative selectable marker. This transgene-free strategy may allow creation of individual strains containing precise mutations in multiple target genes, to study complex cellular processes, pathways or structures.


2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (5) ◽  
pp. 1207-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Péron ◽  
Qiang Pan-Hammarström ◽  
Kohsuke Imai ◽  
Likun Du ◽  
Nadine Taubenheim ◽  
...  

Immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) deficiencies are rare primary immunodeficiencies, characterized by a lack of switched isotype (IgG, IgA, or IgE) production, variably associated with abnormal somatic hypermutation (SHM). Deficiencies in CD40 ligand, CD40, activation-induced cytidine deaminase, and uracil-N-glycosylase may account for this syndrome. We previously described another Ig CSR deficiency condition, characterized by a defect in CSR downstream of the generation of double-stranded DNA breaks in switch (S) μ regions. Further analysis performed with the cells of five affected patients showed that the Ig CSR deficiency was associated with an abnormal formation of the S junctions characterized by microhomology and with increased cell radiosensitivity. In addition, SHM was skewed toward transitions at G/C residues. Overall, these findings suggest that a unique Ig CSR deficiency phenotype could be related to an as-yet-uncharacterized defect in a DNA repair pathway involved in both CSR and SHM events.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Vöhringer ◽  
Arne Van Hoeck ◽  
Edwin Cuppen ◽  
Moritz Gerstung

AbstractWe present TensorSignatures, an algorithm to learn mutational signatures jointly across different variant categories and their genomic localisation and properties. The analysis of 2778 primary and 3824 metastatic cancer genomes of the PCAWG consortium and the HMF cohort shows that all signatures operate dynamically in response to genomic states. The analysis pins differential spectra of UV mutagenesis found in active and inactive chromatin to global genome nucleotide excision repair. TensorSignatures accurately characterises transcription-associated mutagenesis in 7 different cancer types. The algorithm also extracts distinct signatures of replication- and double strand break repair-driven mutagenesis by APOBEC3A and 3B with differential numbers and length of mutation clusters. Finally, TensorSignatures reproduces a signature of somatic hypermutation generating highly clustered variants at transcription start sites of active genes in lymphoid leukaemia, distinct from a general and less clustered signature of Polη-driven translesion synthesis found in a broad range of cancer types. In summary, TensorSignatures elucidates complex mutational footprints by characterising their underlying processes with respect to a multitude of genomic variables.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Bijesh George ◽  
P. Mukundan Pillai ◽  
Aswathy Mary Paul ◽  
Revikumar Amjesh ◽  
Kim Leitzel ◽  
...  

To define the growing significance of cellular targets and/or effectors of cancer drugs, we examined the fitness dependency of cellular targets and effectors of cancer drug targets across human cancer cells from 19 cancer types. We observed that the deletion of 35 out of 47 cellular effectors and/or targets of oncology drugs did not result in the expected loss of cell fitness in appropriate cancer types for which drugs targeting or utilizing these molecules for their actions were approved. Additionally, our analysis recognized 43 cellular molecules as fitness genes in several cancer types in which these drugs were not approved, and thus, providing clues for repurposing certain approved oncology drugs in such cancer types. For example, we found a widespread upregulation and fitness dependency of several components of the mevalonate and purine biosynthesis pathways (currently targeted by bisphosphonates, statins, and pemetrexed in certain cancers) and an association between the overexpression of these molecules and reduction in the overall survival duration of patients with breast and other hard-to-treat cancers, for which such drugs are not approved. In brief, the present analysis raised cautions about off-target and undesirable effects of certain oncology drugs in a subset of cancers where the intended cellular effectors of drug might not be good fitness genes and that this study offers a potential rationale for repurposing certain approved oncology drugs for targeted therapeutics in additional cancer types.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasun Chakraborty ◽  
Kevin Hiom

AbstractDouble stranded DNA Breaks (DSB) that occur in highly transcribed regions of the genome are preferentially repaired by homologous recombination repair (HR). However, the mechanisms that link transcription with HR are unknown. Here we identify a critical role for DHX9, a RNA helicase involved in the processing of pre-mRNA during transcription, in the initiation of HR. Cells that are deficient in DHX9 are impaired in the recruitment of RPA and RAD51 to sites of DNA damage and fail to repair DSB by HR. Consequently, these cells are hypersensitive to treatment with agents such as camptothecin and Olaparib that block transcription and generate DSB that specifically require HR for their repair. We show that DHX9 plays a critical role in HR by promoting the recruitment of BRCA1 to RNA as part of the RNA Polymerase II transcription complex, where it facilitates the resection of DSB. Moreover, defects in DHX9 also lead to impaired ATR-mediated damage signalling and an inability to restart DNA replication at camptothecin-induced DSB. Together, our data reveal a previously unknown role for DHX9 in the DNA Damage Response that provides a critical link between RNA, RNA Pol II and the repair of DNA damage by homologous recombination.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley J Merrill ◽  
Connie Holm

Abstract To examine the role of the RAD52 recombinational repair pathway in compensating for DNA replication defects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we performed a genetic screen to identify mutants that require Rad52p for viability. We isolated 10 mec1 mutations that display synthetic lethality with rad52. These mutations (designated mec1-srf for synthetic lethality with rad-fifty-two) simultaneously cause two types of phenotypes: defects in the checkpoint function of Mec1p and defects in the essential function of Mec1p. Velocity sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients revealed that mec1-srf mutants accumulate small single-stranded DNA synthesis intermediates, suggesting that Mec1p is required for the normal progression of DNA synthesis. sml1 suppressor mutations suppress both the accumulation of DNA synthesis intermediates and the requirement for Rad52p in mec1-srf mutants, but they do not suppress the checkpoint defect in mec1-srf mutants. Thus, it appears to be the DNA replication defects in mec1-srf mutants that cause the requirement for Rad52p. By using hydroxyurea to introduce similar DNA replication defects, we found that single-stranded DNA breaks frequently lead to double-stranded DNA breaks that are not rapidly repaired in rad52 mutants. Taken together, these data suggest that the RAD52 recombinational repair pathway is required to prevent or repair double-stranded DNA breaks caused by defective DNA replication in mec1-srf mutants.


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