台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 chapter 18 slide 1 chapter 18 genetics of cancer peter j....

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台台台台台 台台台 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 1 CHAPTER 18 Genetics of Cancer Peter J. Russell edited by Yue-Wen Wang Ph. D. Dept. of Agronomy, NTU

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台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 1

CHAPTER 18Genetics of Cancer

Peter J. Russell

edited by Yue-Wen Wang Ph. D.Dept. of Agronomy, NTU

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 2

Cancer

1. Oncogenesis may be due to:a. Spontaneous genetic changes,

such as spontaneous gene or chromosome mutations.

b. Exposure to mutagens or radiation.

c. The action of genes introduced by tumor viruses.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 3

Relationship of the Cell Cycle to Cancer

Animation: Regulation of Cell Division in Normal Cells

1. Cell differentiation occurs as cells proliferate to form tissues.

a. Cell differentiation correlates with loss of ability to proliferate, with the most highly specialized cells terminally differentiated.

b. Terminally differentiated cells have a finite life span, and are replaced with new cells produced from stem cells.

c. Stem cells are capable of self-renewal.

d. Proliferation of eukaryotic cells is described by the cell cycle:

i. M is mitotic phase. The rest of the cell cycle is interphase.

ii. During G1 the cell monitors its size and environment.

(1) If conditions are appropriate, it moves into S phase (DNA synthesis), and completes the cycle with G2 and M.

(2) A cell that does not commit to DNA replication may enter G0 for a long

period, then reenter the cell cycle and proliferate.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 4

2. Normal cell cycle is controlled in several ways. Most important are signal transduction pathways.a. Extracellular factors bind to surface receptors, transmembrane

proteins that relay signals into the cell.

b. Factors include (Figure 18.2):

i. Growth factors that stimulate cell division.

ii. Growth-inhibiting factors that inhibit cell division.

c. Healthy cells produce progeny only when the balance of stimulatory and inhibitory signals favors cell division.

d. Neoplastic cells reproduce without constraint, sometimes because of mutations in inhibitory or stimulatory factor genes.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 5Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.2a General events for regulation of cell division in normal cells

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 6Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.2b General events for regulation of cell division in normal cells

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 7

The Two-Hit Mutation Model for Cancer1. Cancers can be caused by viruses, but most result from mutations in cellular

genes. Usually these mutations have accumulated over time, and research has identified the genes involved.

2. The incidence of cancer falls into two categories:

a. Sporadic cancers, the more frequent type, do not appear to have an hereditary cause.

b. Familial (hereditary) cancers run in families. Retinoblastoma provides an example (Figure 18.3).

i. Retinoblastoma is the most common eye tumor in children birth to 4 years. Early treatment (usually gamma radiation) is over 90% effective.

ii. Retinoblastoma has two forms:

(1) Sporadic retinoblastoma (60%) develops in children with no family history of retinoblastoma, and occurs in one eye (unilateral tumor).

(2) Hereditary retinoblastoma (40%) patients typically develop multiple tumors involving both eyes (bilateral tumors).

(a) Onset is usually earlier in the hereditary form.

(b)Siblings and offspring often develop the same type of tumor.

(c) Pedigrees of affected families are consistent with a single gene responsible for retinoblastoma.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 8

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 9

3. Knudson (1971) proposed the 2-hit mutational model, that two mutations were required for development of retinoblastoma (Figure 18.4).

a. In sporadic retinoblastoma, the child starts with two wild-type alleles (RB+/RB+).i. Both alleles must mutate to produce the disease genotype (RB/RB).ii. The probability of both mutations occurring in the same cell is low, so only one

tumor forms.b. In hereditary retinoblastoma, the child starts out heterozygous (RB/RB+).

i. Only one mutation is needed for tumor formation (RB/RB).ii. Mutations resulting in loss of heterozygosity (LOH) are likely in rapidly dividing

cells, and multiple tumors occur.4. In Knudson’s model:

a. Retinoblastoma alleles are recessive, because only homozygotes (RB/RB) develop tumors.

b. However, in pedigree analysis, the disease appears to be dominant. This is because:i. Heterozygous individuals (RB/RB+) are predisposed to the cancer, since only one

mutation is required for the neoplasm. Families with one allele already mutated will have a significant incidence of the disease.

ii. Homozygous dominant individuals (RB+/RB+) develop the cancer only when both alleles in the same cell are mutated. Therefore, most children in the general population do not develop the disease.

5. This hypothesis is supported by later studies of the chromosomes of retinoblastoma patients, which:

a. Mapped the gene to 13q14.1-q14.2 (long arm of chromosome 13).b. Showed that the gene encodes a growth inhibitory factor (tumor suppressor).

6. Retinoblastoma is rare among cancers because a single gene is critical for its development. In most cases, cancers result from a series of mutations in different genes for growth and division.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 10Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.4 Knudson’s two-hit mutation model

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 11

Genes and Cancer

1. Three classes of genes are mutated frequently in cancer:a. Proto-oncogenes, whose products normally stimulate cell

proliferation.

b. Tumor suppressor genes, whose products normally inhibit proliferation.

c. Mutator genes, whose products ensure accurate replication and maintenance of the genome.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 12

Oncogenes

1. Tumor viruses induce infected cells to proliferate and produce a tumor. There are two types, based on the viral genome:a. RNA tumor viruses transform cells by introducing

viral oncogenes. (An oncogene is any gene that stimulates unregulated proliferation.)

b.DNA tumor viruses do not carry oncogenes, and use other mechanisms to transform the cell.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 13

Retroviruses and Oncogenes1. RNA tumor viruses are all retroviruses, and their oncogenes are altered forms

of normal host genes. Examples include:

a. Rous sarcoma virus.

b. Feline leukemia virus.

c. Mouse mammary tumor virus.

d. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1, cause of AIDS).

2. Structurally, retroviruses have:

a. Two copies of the 7-10 kb ssRNA genome.

b. A protein core (often icosahedral).

c. An envelope derived from host membrane and bearing viral glycoproteins used to enter a host cell.

3. The retroviral life cycle was first characterized (1910) for a “filterable agent” from a chicken tumor, later named the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). RSV’s genome organization is known (Figure 18.6).

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 14Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.5 Stylized drawing of a retrovirus

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 15Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.6 The Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) RNA genome and the integration of the

proviral DNA into the host (chicken) chromosome

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 16

4. Upon retroviral infection, the ssRNA genome is released from the virus particle, and reverse transcribed to dsDNA (proviral DNA) by reverse transcriptase carried in the virus particle.

a. Proviral DNA integrates into host chromosome:

i. The 5’ (left) end of the viral genome has sequences R and U5, while the 3’ (right) end has sequences U3 and R.

ii. During proviral synthesis, genome ends are duplicated to produce long repeats (LTR) of U3-R-U5. The LTRs contain transcription regulatory signals for viral genes (Figure 18.7)

iii. Proviral DNA is ligated to produce a circular dsDNA with two adjacent LTRs.iv. Staggered nicks in proviral and host DNA are used for integration of the viral genome

into the host chromosome.v. Single-stranded gaps are filled, producing short, direct repeats in host DNA flanking the

provirus.b. Host RNA polymerase II transcribes the proviral DNA, and viral mRNAs are produced by

alternative splicing. Three genes are characteristic of retroviruses:i. The gag (group antigen) gene encodes a precursor protein that is cleaved to form the

protein core (capsid).ii. The pol (polymerase) gene produces a precursor protein cleaved to make reverse

transcriptase and an enzyme for proviral integration.iii. The env (envelope) gene encodes the envelope glycoprotein, used to infect a host cell.

5. Oncogenic retroviruses carry an oncogene that is not involved in the cell cycle.a. Different retroviruses carry different oncogenes. In RSV the oncogene is src.b. Most retroviruses cannot replicate due to missing life-cycle genes (RSV is an exception).c. Retroviruses without oncogenes (nononcogenic retroviruses) direct their own life cycle, and do

not change the growth properties of infected cells.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 17Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.7 Features of LTRs

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 18

6. Nononcogenic retroviruses include HIV-1, a virus that causes AIDS, rather than cancer.

a. The bullet-shaped capsid is surrounded by an envelope containing viral gp120 glycoproteins.

b. The genome contains gag, pol and env genes, and several other genes used for gene regulation (e.g., tat regulates gag and pol expression).

c. Infection begins when the gp120 glycoprotein in the HIV-1 envelope binds:i. Most commonly, the CD4 receptor of a helper T cell.ii. A different receptor on a different type of cell (e.g., macrophage, glial cell in

brain, regulatory cell of intestinal lining).d. The virus particle enters the cell, the protein capsid is lost and the viral life cycle

begins.e. Normal viral replication causes death of cells infected with HIV-1, depleting the

helper T cells needed to mount an immune response. Unable to combat infection, AIDS patients frequently die of infections and cancers.

7. Retroviruses that carry an oncogene (v-onc) are transducing retroviruses. Different types of cancer are caused by different v-onc genes (e.g., the sarcoma gene, v-src, of RSV).

a. RSV-infected cells rapidly transform, and also produce progeny RSV particles, because RSV is unusual in having intact gag, pol, and env genes.

b. All other transducing retroviruses are defective, lacking one or more genes needed to replicate. If a helper virus supplies the missing gene product(s), progeny can be made.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 19Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.8 Life cycle of a nononcogenic retrovirus

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 20Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.9 Structures of four defective transducing viruses (not to scale)

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 21

8. Cellular proto-oncogenes with close homology to v-onc genes were described by Bishop and Varmus (1970s). Later work by other researchers showed that:a. Oncogenes are present in human tumor cells, and cause

transformation when introduced into normal cultured cells.b. Human cells have genes (proto-oncogenes) that are very similar

to v-onc genes, but do not induce cancers.c. Proto-oncogenes are normal cellular genes that regulate cell

division and differentiation.d. Normal cells can become transformed without a tumor virus, if

the proto-oncogene mutates to form a cellular oncogene (c-onc).e. Proto-oncogenes contain introns that are missing in the

corresponding v-onc.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 22Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.10 The chicken c-src proto-oncogene and its relationship to v-src in Rous

sarcoma virus

Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 23

9. Transducing retroviruses form due to random integration of proviral DNA. a. If proviral insertion causes a genetic rearrangement that connects viral

transcription signals to nearby cellular sequences: i. All viral progeny will carry and express the cellular sequence. ii. If the acquired sequence is an oncogene, the virus will be oncogenic. iii. If the acquired sequence is a proto-oncogene that shows increased

expression when in the viral genome, the virus will also be oncogenic. iv. Viral sequences are often deleted in the process.

b. An example of how a transducing virus may form (Figure 18.11): i. A retrovirus integrates near a cellular proto-oncogene. ii. A deletion fuses retrovirus sequences with proto-oncogene sequences. iii. TranscriptIon (and splicing if necessary) produces a fusion mRNA. iv. Normal retrovirus genome and the fusion mRNA are copackaged,

providing reverse transcriptase that can switch templates and make a defective transducing virus.

c. Evidence that viral oncogenes derive from transduced cellular proto-oncogenes:

i. Cellular proto-oncogenes are in conserved positions on the chromosome, but viral oncogenes are in variable positions.

ii. Cellular homologs of v-onc genes are conserved between species, but v-onc genes are not conserved between viral strains.

iii. Transduction can be accomplished experimentally in tissue culture and in animals.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 24Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.11 Model for the formation of a transducing retrovirus

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 25

Protein Products of Proto-oncogenes1. Proto-oncogenes fall into classes with characteristic protein products,

all of which stimulate cell growth (Table 18.2). Examples:

a. An example of growth factors is the viral oncogene v-sis, which encodes platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

i. Deriving from mammalian blood platelets, PDGF causes fibroblasts to grow as part of wound-healing.

ii. Introduction of a cloned PDGF gene into cells that normally do not express it (e.g., fibroblasts) transformed the cells.

iii. Inappropriately expressed growth factors, therefore, can cause cancer.

b. An example of protein kinases is the src gene product, which encodes pp60src, a nonreceptor protein kinase.

i. Both cellular and viral versions of the pp60src protein phosphorylate tyrosine (rather than serine or threonine).

ii. Protein kinases are known to be involved in many aspects of cell signaling and growth regulation.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 26

Changing Cellular Proto-Oncogenes into Oncogenes1. Conversion of proto-oncogenes to oncogenes relaxes cell control, allowing

unregulated proliferation. Examples:

a. Point mutations in the coding or controlling sequences can either change the gene product or alter its expression. The ras genes are an example:

i. A point mutation produces a mutant protein that can cause cancer in many different types of cells.

ii. G proteins lose regulation, and constitutive growth signals are transmitted to the cell.

b. Deletions of coding or controlling sequences can change the amount of activity of growth stimulatory proteins, allowing proliferation. The myc gene is an example:

i. The myc gene product is a transcription factor that activates genes involved in cell division.

ii. Deletions can remove upstream sequences, allowing expression from an alternative promoter and changing the amount or activity of the protein product.

c. Gene amplification, caused by random overreplication of regions of genomic DNA, has been found in tumor cells. Multiple copies of ras in mouse adrenocortical tumors are an example.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 27

Cancer Induction by Retroviruses

1. One human, and many animal cancers, are caused by retroviruses. Two mechanisms can account for viral-induced cell proliferation independent of cell cycle control signals:a. A v-onc carried by an integrated retrovirus may be

transcribed from a viral promoter.

b.Proviral DNA may integrate near a proto-oncogene, and be transcribed from promoter and enhancer sequences in the viral LTR (insertional mutagenesis).

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 28

DNA Tumor Viruses1. Oncogenic DNA viruses do not carry oncogenes, but may transform

cells using viral gene products. Examples include:

a. Papovaviruses.

b. Hepatitis B viruses.

c. Herpes viruses.

d. Adenoviruses.

e. Pox viruses.

2. DNA viruses induce production of cellular DNA replication enzymes, which are used in viral replication. Rarely, viral DNA integrates into the host genome instead, and may produce protein(s) that stimulate the cell to proliferate. An example:

a. The papovavirus group includes many different papillomaviruses, some of which cause:

i. Human warts.

ii. Human cervical cancer (HPV-16, HPV-18), due to action of the E6 and E7 genes, which influence cell growth and division.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 29

Tumor Suppressor Genes

1. Harris (1960s) showed that fusion of cancer cells and normal cells did not always result in a tumor, indicating the existence of tumor suppressor genes.

2. In certain cancers, both homologous chromosomes show deletion of specific regions, the sites of tumor suppressor genes that inhibit cell growth and division. Human examples include:

a. Breast cancer.

b. Colon cancer.

c. Lung cancer.

3. Action of tumor suppressors is the opposite of proto-oncogenes.

4. Both tumor suppressor genes must be lost for unregulated growth to occur (they are recessive), while only one mutation is needed to change a proto-oncogene to an oncogene (it is dominant) (Figure 18.12).

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 30Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.12 Comparison of the effects of tumor suppressor gene and proto-oncogene

mutations

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 31

Finding Tumor Suppressor Genes

1. Recessive genes, like those for tumor suppression, are more difficult to detect than dominant genes.

2. Positional cloning, the search for DNA variations between normal and tumor cells, was finally successful in isolating several tumor suppressor genes (Table 18.3).

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 32

The Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Gene1. The human RB tumor suppressor gene has been mapped (13q14.1-q14.2) and sequenced.

a. Its 180 kb of DNA encodes a 4.7 kb mRNA that produces a 928-amino-acid nuclear phosphoprotein, pRB.

b. pRB is expressed in every tissue type examined, regulating cell cycle and all major cellular processes.

c. Tumor cells have point mutations or deletions in the gene, leading to loss of pRB function.

d. Karyotype analysis detects about 5% of RB mutants, and the remainder are difficult to detect even with molecular techniques.

e. In hereditary retinoblastoma, both alleles are often identical, possibly due to:

i. Mitotic recombination.

ii. Chromosomal nondisjunction.

iii. Gene conversion.

2. The cell cycle transition from G1 to S is regulated by pRB, committing the cell to the rest of

the cycle.

a. In a normal G1 cell, pRB binds two transcription factors, E2F and DP1 (Figure 18.13).

b. As long as pRB stays bound to the factors, the cell remains in G1 or enters G0.

c. At the signal to progress through the cell cycle, cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylates pRB so that it is unable to bind E2F.

d. Free E2F now binds and activates transcription of genes required for entry into S phase.

e. After the cell completes mitosis, pRB is dephosphorylated.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 33Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.13 Role of pRB in regulating the passage of cells from G1 to S

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 34

3. In a cell with two mutant RB alleles:a. If pRB is present, it is unable to bind E2F/DP1.

b. Target genes are activated, and the cell enters S phase.

4. Several viruses (e.g., adenovirus, SV40) make proteins that complex with pRB, blocking its ability to bind E2F, and so allowing the S phase genes to be activated.

5. pRB bind other cellular proteins, including those involved with all three RNA polymerases: a. A component of the RNA polymerase II basal transcription machinery.

b. Factors for rRNA synthesis by RNA polymerase I.

c. Factors for tRNA synthesis by RNA polymerase III.

6. Retinoblastoma indicates that pRB may also play a role in regulating development, perhaps by causing cells to become terminally differentiated.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 35

The p53 Tumor Suppressor GeneAnimation: The Tumor Suppressor Gene, p531. Most cancers result from mutations in several genes. A gene mutated in about

1⁄2 of human cancers is p53, encoding a 53 kDa tumor suppressor protein (chromosomal location 17p13.1).

a. Inheritance of 1 mutant p53 allele results in Li-Fraumeni syndrome, in which a rare form of cancer develops in a number of tissues.

b. Tumors arise when the second p53 allele is mutated, so the trait is inherited as an autosomal dominant.

2. The p53 tumor suppressor protein (393 amino acids) is involved in many processes, including:

a. Transcription.b. Cell cycle control.c. DNA repair.d. Apoptosis (programmed cell death).

3. Wild-type p53 protein binds to several genes, including WAF1, which encodes p21.

a. When p21 is activated by p53, it causes cells to arrest in G1 by binding to a cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) complex.

b. Kinase activity is blocked, so genes for moving from G1 to S are not activated.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 36

4. Damage to cellular DNA (e.g., by irradiation) causes p53 to initiate the cascade of events leading to G1 arrest (Figure 18.14).

a. DNA damage leads to stabilization of p53 in an unknown way.

b. The cell has time to repair the DNA damage, before allowing the cell cycle to resume.

c. If damage is too severe, the cell cycle does not resume, and apoptosis occurs. Induction of apoptosis is a function of p53.

5. If both p53 alleles are inactivated, WAF1 cannot be activated and p21 will not be available to block Cdk activity.

a. The cell is unable to arrest in G1, and the cell cycle proceeds to S, regardless of

DNA damage.

b. Apoptosis does not occur without p53.

c. Cell division produces cells with unrepaired genetic damage, allowing mutations to accumulate, and raising the risk of cancer.

6. At least 17 cellular and viral proteins interact with p53. Virus proteins typically inactivate p53, allowing products needed for replication to be expressed.

7. Transgenic mice with deletions of both p53 alleles (knockout mice) are fully viable.

a. This indicates that p53 is not essential for growth, cell division or differentiation.

b. The p532/p532 knockout mice have one major phenotype, a very high frequency of cancers (100% by the tenth month).

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 37Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.14 Cascade of events by which DNA lesions cause an arrest in G1

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 38

Breast Cancer Tumor Suppressor Genes1. Breast cancer is a very common type of cancer. About 5% of breast

cancers are hereditary, and like retinoblastoma, the hereditary form often has earlier onset and is bilateral.

2. Several genes appear to be involved in familial breast cancer, with two (BRCA1 and BRCA2) thought to be tumor suppressor genes.

a. Mutations in BRCA1 (located at 17q21) are also involved in ovarian cancer. The gene is expressed in many tissues to produce a 190-kDa protein with a role in a number of functions, including:

i. Homologous recombination.

ii. Cellular responses to DNA damage.

iii. Transcription of mRNA (the BRCA1 protein is part of RNA polymerase II).

b. The BRCA2 gene (13q12-q13) is not involved with ovarian cancer.

i. The large BRCA2 protein has some similarity to BRCA1.

ii. BRCA2 is part of a complex playing a role in timely progression of cells through mitosis.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 39

Mutator Genes1. A gene that increases the spontaneous mutation rate when it is mutated

is a mutator gene. Wild-type mutator gene products are involved in DNA replication and repair, so mutations make the cell error-prone.

2. An example is hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).

a. HNPCC results from an autosomal dominant allele that causes early onset of colorectal cancer in which no adenomas (polyps) form.

b. In humans, a mutation in any one of four genes (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1 and hPMS2) gives hereditary predisposition to HNPCC.

c. A mutation in the single normal allele for any of these genes results in cancer, so its inheritance follows a dominant pattern.

d. All four genes have homologs in yeast and E. coli that are involved in DNA repair, and 1 of the human genes (hMSH2) has been shown to be active in E. coli through complementation.

e. DNA-based blood tests are available for all four genes, allowing carriers to be detected.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 40

The Multistep Nature of Cancer1. Cancer induction may require accumulation of 6–7 independent mutations over

several decades, typically involving:

a. Conversion of proto-oncogenes to oncogenes.

b. Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes.

2. An example is Vogelstein’s model for a form of colorectal cancer, hereditary FAP (Figure 18.15).

a. Mutation of both alleles of a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 5, APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), causes increased cell growth.

b. Hypomethylation of the DNA leads to a benign tumor (adenoma class I).

c. Mutation of the chromosome 12 ras proto-oncogene allows cells to form a larger benign tumor (adenoma class II).

d. If both copies of DCC, a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 18, are lost, an even larger adenoma class III results.

e. Mutation of both p53 alleles on chromosome 17 results in conversion to a carcinoma.

f. Other gene losses result in the cancer metastasizing.g. Other paths are possible, but in all cases deletions of APC and mutations of ras

occur before deletions of DCC and p53.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 41Peter J. Russell, iGenetics: Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 18.15 A multistep molecular event model for the development of hereditary

adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a colorectal cancer

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 42

Chemicals and Radiation as Carcinogens

1. Carcinogens are natural and artificial agents that increase the frequency of cells becoming cancerous.

2. Chemicals are responsible for more human cancers than viruses.a. Chemical carcinogenesis was first discovered in 18th century

chimney sweeps with increased incidence of scrotal cancer due to coal soot.

b. Many present-day cancers are related to occupational exposures to carcinogens.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 43

Chemical Carcinogens1. Chemical carcinogens are both natural and synthetic, and are divided into two major classes

(both types of carcinogens cause point mutations):

a. Direct-acting carcinogens bind DNA and act as mutagens. Alkylating agents are an example.

b. Procarcinogens are metabolically converted by normal cellular enzymes to ultimate carcinogens that bind DNA and cause mutations. Most chemical carcinogens are procarcinogens. Examples include:

i. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in, for example, smoke from wood, coal and cigarettes.

ii. Azo dyes.

iii. Natural metabolites (e.g., aflatoxin from fungi).

iv. Nitrosamines (from nitrites in food).

2. Chemical carcinogens are responsible for most U.S. cancer deaths, with tobacco smoke and diet responsible for 50–60%.

a. Tobacco smoking accounts for about 30% of cancer deaths.

b. Risk is influenced by:

i. Amount of tobacco smoked.

ii. Tar content of the tobacco.

iii. Age at which smoking began (earlier increases risk).

iv. Exposure to secondhand smoke.

c. A major type of carcinogen in tobacco smoke is polycyclic hydrocarbons. Converted to the ultimate carcinogen derivative in the cell, they react with negatively charged molecules such as DNA, resulting in mutations.

台大農藝系 遺傳學 601 20000 Chapter 18 slide 44

Radiation1. Sources of radiation include:

a. Sun.

b. Cellular telephones.

c. Radon gas.

d. Electric power lines.

e. Some household appliances.

2. Only about 2% of cancer deaths are caused by radiation, but the cancers are often highly aggressive melanomas.

3. Ionizing radiation (from X rays, radioactive materials and radon gas) can cause leukemia and thyroid cancer.

4. An example of mutation from radiation is UV light. There are two types, based on wavelength:

a. Ultraviolet A (UVA) spans 320–400 nm in wavelength. UVA plays a role in skin cancer by increasing the effects of UVB.

b. Ultraviolet B (UVB) spans 290–320 in wavelength. UVB is the main cause of sunburn, and it is also mutagenic.

c. Sunscreen reduces the risk of UV exposure.

d. Many skin cancers are easy to detect and remove surgically.