Transposable elements – Is there a link between evolution and cancer?

Hauptmann, Steffen

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.08.051

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…They are the only active retrotransposons within the human genome, and it is assumed that the activation of retrotransposons and tumorigenesis are strictly connected (34). With our observation that an elevated level of spcDNA is associated with an increased level of Alu and/or L1 sequences in the spcDNA, one may suppose an indication of a mode of increasing retrotranspositional activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Small polydispersed circular DNA contains strains of mobile genetic elements and occurs more frequently in permanent cell lines of malignant tumors than in normal lymphocytes

Schmidt

Täubert²,

Lange³

et al. 2009

Oncol Rep

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Abstract. Small polydispersed circular DNA (spcDNA) belongs to the extrachromosomal pool of DNA and is composed of heterogeneous DNA circles. Whether spcDNA has a special function is currently unclear but their occurrence was suggested to be linked to genetic instability. In this study we investigated as to whether human lymphocytes from healthy volunteers also harbour spcDNA and whether spcDNA is present in all permanent cell lines from human normal and malignant tissues. Moreover, we were interested to see whether spcDNA contains sequences of mobile genetic elements. Our results show that spcDNA is present in all samples investigated yet the amount is lower in normal lymphocytes when compared to cancer cell lines (5.4 vs. 17.8%). Alu sequences were present in 12/16 cancer cell lines whereas LINE-1 (L1) sequences were present in 15 of them. Six tumor cell lines also contained telomeric sequences. In contrast to that, spcDNA of normal lymphocytes contains Alu and L1 sequences only in 3/16 cases and no telomeric sequences at all. Our findings suggest a direct dependency of the amount of Alu and L1 sequences on that of spcDNA. Beside these repetitive sequences, sequencing of spcDNA revealed in most cases chromosomal sequences of almost all chromosomes without an increased frequency of single regions. We suggest that the whole spcDNA including retrotranspositional elements and telomeric sequences may play a role for chromosomal rearrangements and genomic instability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Small polydispersed circular DNA contains strains of mobile genetic elements and occurs more frequently in permanent cell lines of malignant tumors than in normal lymphocytes

Schmidt

Täubert²,

Lange³

et al. 2009

Oncol Rep

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“…As in other articles on TEs and cancers [10,17,18,66,67], the ideas presented here can be seen as an extension of the extraordinary insights of Barbara McClintock, who first discovered, then described TEs to a then-sceptical, premolecular scientific community 60 years ago. At that time, she emphasised their roles in regulating the expression of neighbouring genes -'controlling elements' -and as agents of chromosome breakage and rearrangement [20], the two issues discussed here.…”

Section: Evolutionary Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Although this idea continues to have much support [17,22,74,75], it is problematical. It implies that something that is as deleterious as large scale chromosome breakage and rearrangement can be selected for a possible future benefit for the host lineage.…”

Section: A S Wilkinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A suggestion along these lines was made several years ago by Hauptmann and Schmitt [17] but without specification of a mechanism; here the idea is fleshed out in terms of the specifics of RTN and cancer biology. The idea has its most direct application to 'sporadic' cancers, which comprise approximately 80% of all clinical cases [10], and to carcinogen-induced cancers but, as discussed later, may also have relevance to cancers with some proven degree of genetic causation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The idea has its most direct application to 'sporadic' cancers, which comprise approximately 80% of all clinical cases [10], and to carcinogen-induced cancers but, as discussed later, may also have relevance to cancers with some proven degree of genetic causation. In addition, the suspected genetic effects of activated RTNs in cancer [17][18][19] are briefly reviewed. The hypothesis can help explain and integrate many of the disparate observations in cancer biology that have so far resisted convincing synthesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enemy within: An epigenetic role of retrotransposons in cancer initiation

Wilkins

2010

BioEssays

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This article proposes that cancers can be initiated by retrotransposon (RTN) activation through changes in the transcriptional regulation of nearby genes. I first detail the hypothesis and then discuss the nature of physiological stress(es) in RTN activation; the role of DNA demethylation in the initiation and propagation of new RTN states; the connection between ageing and cancer incidence and the involvement of activated RTNs in the chromosomal aberrations that feature in cancer progression. The hypothesis neither replaces nor invalidates other theories of cancer, in particular the somatic mutation theory, but helps clarify and unify much of the hitherto poorly integrated, complex phenomenology of cancer.

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