Somatic copy number amplification and gene overexpression are common features of many cancers. To determine the role of gene overexpression on chromosome instability (CIN), we performed genome-wide screens in the budding yeast for yeast genes that cause CIN when overexpressed, a phenotype we refer to as dosage CIN (dCIN), and identified 245 dCIN genes. This catalog of genes reveals human orthologs known to be recurrently overexpressed and/or amplified in tumors. We show that two genes, TDP1, a tyrosyl-DNA-phosphdiesterase, and TAF12, an RNA polymerase II TATA-box binding factor, cause CIN when overexpressed in human cells. Rhabdomyosarcoma lines with elevated human Tdp1 levels also exhibit CIN that can be partially rescued by siRNA-mediated knockdown of TDP1. Overexpression of dCIN genes represents a genetic vulnerability that could be leveraged for selective killing of cancer cells through targeting of an unlinked synthetic dosage lethal (SDL) partner. Using SDL screens in yeast, we identified a set of genes that when deleted specifically kill cells with high levels of Tdp1. One gene was the histone deacetylase RPD3, for which there are known inhibitors. Both HT1080 cells overexpressing hTDP1 and rhabdomyosarcoma cells with elevated levels of hTdp1 were more sensitive to histone deacetylase inhibitors valproic acid (VPA) and trichostatin A (TSA), recapitulating the SDL interaction in human cells and suggesting VPA and TSA as potential therapeutic agents for tumors with elevated levels of hTdp1. The catalog of dCIN genes presented here provides a candidate list to identify genes that cause CIN when overexpressed in cancer, which can then be leveraged through SDL to selectively target tumors.dosage chromosome instability | overexpression | synthetic dosage lethality | TDP1 | rhabdomyosarcoma

Background: Inappropriate prescribing increases patient illness and death owing to adverse drug events. The inclusion of genetic information into primary care medication practices is one solution. Our aim was to assess the ability to obtain and genotype saliva samples and to determine the levels of use of a decision support tool that creates medication options adjusted for patient characteristics, drug-drug interactions and pharmacogenetics. Methods:We conducted a cohort study in 6 primary care settings (5 family practices and 1 pharmacy), enrolling 191 adults with at least 1 of 10 common diseases. Saliva samples were obtained in the physician's office or pharmacy and sent to our laboratory, where DNA was extracted and genotyped and reports were generated. The reports were sent directly to the family physician/pharmacist and linked to an evidence-based prescribing decision support system. The primary outcome was ability to obtain and genotype samples. The secondary outcomes were yield and purity of DNA samples, ability to link results to decision support software and use of the decision support software. Results:Genotyping resulted in linking of 189 patients (99%) with pharmacogenetic reports to the decision support program. A total of 96.8% of samples had at least 1 actionable genotype for medications included in the decision support system. The medication support system was used by the physicians and pharmacists 236 times over 3 months.Interpretation: Physicians and pharmacists can collect saliva samples of sufficient quantity and quality for DNA extraction, purification and genotyping. A clinical decision support system with integrated data from pharmacogenetic tests may enable personalized prescribing within primary care. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02383290. AbstractResearch Research CMAJ OPENCMAJ OPEN, 4(3) E529fective at changing prescribing decisions, 13 whereas information given within a physician's workflow has been found to be effective in reducing inappropriate orders for imaging. 14 A medication decision support system (MDSS) is a health information technology system that is designed to provide health care professionals with clinical decision support with medication decision-making tasks. These systems assess whether a drug is safe and effective for the patient, taking into account other medications, diseases and the patient's physical state. 15 We have developed a patient-centred MDSS that assesses the potential drug-drug, drug-condition, druggene and drug-drug-gene interactions and produces a list of drug options least likely to cause harm and most likely to be effective.We conducted a study to assess the DNA collection processes, investigate a panel of pharmacogenetic tests relevant to primary care patients and assess the use of an MDSS. The value of the MDSS will be assessed once feasibility of all processes has been shown. MethodsOver an 18-month period before the start of the trial, we developed a pharmacogenetic panel, a pharmacogenetic report and an MDSS for use in primary...

Mutations that cause genome instability are considered important predisposing events that contribute to initiation and progression of cancer. Genome instability arises either due to defects in genes that cause an increased mutation rate (mutator phenotype), or defects in genes that cause chromosome instability (CIN). To extend the catalog of genome instability genes, we systematically explored the effects of gene overexpression on mutation rate, using a forward-mutation screen in budding yeast. We screened ∼5100 plasmids, each overexpressing a unique single gene, and characterized the five strongest mutators, MPH1 (mutator phenotype 1), RRM3, UBP12, PIF1, and DNA2. We show that, for MPH1, the yeast homolog of Fanconi Anemia complementation group M (FANCM), the overexpression mutator phenotype is distinct from that of mph1Δ. Moreover, while four of our top hits encode DNA helicases, the overexpression of 48 other DNA helicases did not cause a mutator phenotype, suggesting this is not a general property of helicases. For Mph1 overexpression, helicase activity was not required for the mutator phenotype; in contrast Mph1 DEAH-box function was required for hypermutation. Mutagenesis by MPH1 overexpression was independent of translesion synthesis (TLS), but was suppressed by overexpression of RAD27, a conserved flap endonuclease. We propose that binding of DNA flap structures by excess Mph1 may block Rad27 action, creating a mutator phenotype that phenocopies rad27Δ. We believe this represents a novel mutator mode-of-action and opens up new prospects to understand how upregulation of DNA repair proteins may contribute to mutagenesis.

We tested pairwise combinations of classical base analog mutagens in Escherichia coli to study possible mutagen synergies. We examined the cytidine analogs zebularine (ZEB) and 5-azacytidine (5AZ), the adenine analog 2-aminopurine (2AP), and the uridine/thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5BrdU). We detected a striking synergy with the 2AP plus ZEB combination, resulting in hypermutability, a 35-fold increase in mutation frequency (to 53,000 ؋ 10 ؊8 ) in the rpoB gene over that with either mutagen alone. A weak synergy was also detected with 2AP plus 5AZ and with 5BrdU plus ZEB. The pairing of 2AP and 5BrdU resulted in suppression, lowering the mutation frequency of 5BrdU alone by 6.5-fold. Sequencing the mutations from the 2AP plus ZEB combination showed the predominance of two new hot spots for A·T¡G·C transitions that are not well represented in either single mutagen spectrum, and one of which is not found even in the spectrum of a mismatch repair-deficient strain. The strong synergy between 2AP and ZEB could be explained by changes in the dinucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pools. IMPORTANCEAlthough mutagens have been widely studied, the mutagenic effects of combinations of mutagens have not been fully researched. Here, we show that certain pairwise combinations of base analog mutagens display synergy or suppression. In particular, the combination of 2-aminopurine and zebularine, analogs of adenine and cytidine, respectively, shows a 35-fold increased mutation frequency compared with that of either mutagen alone. Understanding the mechanism of synergy can lead to increased understanding of mutagenic processes. As combinations of base analogs are used in certain chemotherapy regimens, including those involving ZEB and 5AZ, these results indicate that testing the mutagenicity of all drug combinations is prudent. Mutagen-induced mutations have been the subject of intensive investigation for decades (e.g., see references 1 to 4; see reviews in references 5 to 7). However, there are far fewer studies of combinations of mutagens. We are studying possible synergies between mutagens in Escherichia coli and initially examined a set of base analog mutagens ( Fig. 1): the cytidine analogs zebularine (ZEB) and 5-azacytidine (5AZ), the adenine analog 2-aminopurine (2AP), and the uridine/thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5BrdU). ZEB lacks the amino group of cytidine (8) and causes C·G¡T·A changes in the rpoB/rifampin resistance (Rif r ) system in E. coli (9). It is used in chemotherapy as a demethylating agent (8, 10, 11) to reverse the effects of gene-silenced tumor suppressor gene (12-15) and because the hydrated form is a potent inhibitor of cytidine deaminase (16). 5AZ, another cytidine analog that is used as a demethylating agent in chemotherapy (12, 13), possesses a unique mutagenic specificity, stimulating only C·G¡G·C changes (17-19). 5AZ and ZEB have been used in combination in chemotherapy (20). 2-Aminopurine results principally in G·C¡A·T and A·T¡G·C changes (e.g., see references 18 and 21 to 25), as...

The ability to rapidly assess chromosome instability (CIN) has enabled profiling of most yeast genes for potential effects on genome stability. The A-like faker (ALF) assay is one of several qualitative and quantitative marker loss assays that indirectly measure loss or conversion of genetic material using a counterselection step. The ALF assay relies on the ability to count spurious mating events that occur upon loss of the MATα locus of haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Here, we describe the deployment of the ALF assay for both rapid and simple qualitative, and more in-depth quantitative analysis allowing determination of absolute ALF frequencies.

ObjectiveA simple, non-invasive sample collection method is key for the integration of pharmacogenetics into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to gain samples for pharmacogenetic testing and evaluate the variation between dry-flocked and sponge-tipped buccal swabs in yield and quality of DNA isolated.ResultsThirty-one participants collected samples using dry-flocked swabs and sponge-tipped swabs. Samples were assessed for DNA yield, quality and genotyping performance on a qPCR OpenArray platform of 28 pharmacogenetic SNPs and a CYP2D6 TaqMan copy number variant. DNA from sponge-tipped swabs had a significantly greater yield compared to DNA collected with dry-flocked swabs (p = 4.4 × 10−7). Moreover, highest genotyping call rates across all assays and highest CNV confidence scores were observed in DNA samples collected from sponge-tipped swabs (97% vs. 54% dry-flocked swabs; 0.99 vs. 0.88 dry-flocked swabs, respectively). Sample collection using sponge-tipped swabs provides a DNA source of sufficient quantity and quality for pharmacogenetic variant detection using qPCR.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3476-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Somatic copy number amplifications (SCNAs) and gene over-expression are common features of many cancers. To determine the role of gene over-expression on genome stability, we performed functional genomic screens in the budding yeast for chromosome instability, a defining characteristic of cancer that can be targeted by therapeutics. Over-expression of 245 yeast genes increases chromosome instability by influencing processes such as chromosome segregation and DNA damage repair. Testing candidate human homologs, which were highly recurrently altered in tumors lead to the identification of 2 genes, Tdp1 and Taf12 that contribute to CIN in human cells when over-expressed.Rhabdomyosarcoma lines with higher levels of Tdp1 also show chromosome instability and can be partially rescued by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Tdp1. Using synthetic dosage lethality screens in yeast, we identified candidate target genes that will specifically target tumors with high levels of Tdp1.We demonstrate the utility of functional genetic screens in model organisms to broaden the spectrum of CIN genes, to identify novel genes relevant to chromosome instability in humans and to identify candidate gene targets that can be leveraged to selectively kill tumors over-expressing specific genes.