Genome Stability And Human Diseases

Since the establishment of the DNA structure researchers have been highly interested in the molecular basis of the inheritance of genes and of genetic disorders. Scientific investigations of the last two decades have shown that, in addition to oncogenic viruses and signalling pathways alterations, genomic instability is important in the development of cancer. This view is supported by the findings that aneuploidy, which results from chromosome instability, is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Chromosomal instability also underpins our fundamental principles of understanding tumourigenesis: It thought that cancer arises from the sequential acquisition of genetic alterations in specific genes. In this hypothesis, these rare genetic events represent rate-limiting ‘bottlenecks’ in the clonal evolution of a cancer, and pre-cancerous cells can evolve into neoplastic cells through the acquisition of somatic mutations. This book is written by international leading scientists in the field of genome stability. Chapters are devoted to genome stability and anti-cancer drug targets, histone modifications, chromatin factors, DNA repair, apoptosis and many other key areas of research. The chapters give insights into the newest development of the genome stability and human diseases and bring the current understanding of the mechanisms leading to chromosome instability and their potential for clinical impact to the reader.

Genome Stability: From Virus to Human Application, Second Edition, a volume in the Translational Epigenetics series, explores how various species maintain genome stability and genome diversification in response to environmental factors. Here, across thirty-eight chapters, leading researchers provide a deep analysis of genome stability in DNA/RNA viruses, prokaryotes, single cell eukaryotes, lower multicellular eukaryotes, and mammals, examining how epigenetic factors contribute to genome stability and how these species pass memories of encounters to progeny. Topics also include major DNA repair mechanisms, the role of chromatin in genome stability, human diseases associated with genome instability, and genome stability in response to aging. This second edition has been fully revised to address evolving research trends, including CRISPRs/Cas9 genome editing; conventional versus transgenic genome instability; breeding and genetic diseases associated with abnormal DNA repair; RNA and extrachromosomal DNA; cloning, stem cells, and embryo development; programmed genome instability; and conserved and divergent features of repair. This volume is an essential resource for geneticists, epigeneticists, and molecular biologists who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of this rapidly expanding field, and can also be of great use to advanced students who are looking to gain additional expertise in genome stability. A deep analysis of genome stability research from various kingdoms, including epigenetics and transgenerational effects Provides comprehensive coverage of mechanisms utilized by different organisms to maintain genomic stability Contains applications of genome instability research and outcomes for human disease Features all-new chapters on evolving areas of genome stability research, including CRISPRs/Cas9 genome editing, RNA and extrachromosomal DNA, programmed genome instability, and conserved and divergent features of repair

Cancer and other genetic human diseases are caused by a variety of mutations, ranging from subtle sequence changes to larger genomic rearrangements and alterations in chromosome number (aneuploidy). With contributions by reputed experts, this book aims to update the knowledge on the multiple mechanisms of genomic instability leading to human disease. Emphasis is given to the different types of genomic sequences involved in disease-related genomic rearrangements as well as to the various exogenous factors increasing the frequency of mutations. Several chapters are dedicated to the dysfunction of important cellular mechanisms like DNA repair and chromosome segregation, which may cause genomic instability and result in tumorigenesis. Important 'caretaker' genes controlling the stability of our genome have been identified through their defect in genomic instability syndromes, which are also extensively reviewed in this volume. This book provides an important update not only for investigators in biology and medicine, but also for physicians and anyone interested in the molecular basis of human disease.

Research over the past decades has firmly established the genetic basis of cancer. In particular, studies on animal tumour viruses and chromosome rearrangements in human tumours have concurred to identify so-called ‘proto-oncogenes’ and ‘tumour suppressor genes’, whose deregulation promotes carcinogenesis. These important findings not only explain the occurrence of certain hereditary tumours, but they also set the stage for the development of anti-cancer drugs that specifically target activated oncogenes. However, in spite of tremendous progress towards the elucidation of key signalling pathways involved in carcinogenesis, most cancers continue to elude currently available therapies. This stands as a reminder that “cancer” is an extraordinarily complex disease: although some cancers of the haematopoietic system show only a limited number of characteristic chromosomal aberrations, most solid tumours display a myriad of genetic changes and considerable genetic heterogeneity. This is thought to reflect a trait commonly referred to as ‘genome instability’, so that no two cancers are ever likely to display the exact same genetic alterations. Numerical and structural chromosome aberrations were recognised as a hallmark of human tumours for more than a century. Yet, the causes and consequences of these aberrations still remain to be fully understood. In particular, the question of how genome instability impacts on the development of human cancers continues to evoke intense debate.

M. B. KASTAN Cancer is a disease resulting from alterations of cellular genes which cause phe notypic changes in somatic cells. Usually, when we think about genetic diseases, we think about inheriting one or two abnormal genes from our parents and these gene abnormalities confer the disease phenotype. In contrast, in the majority of cancers, no such inherited gene abnormalities can be identified (which does not mean that they do not exist) and there is no obvious family history suggesting an inherited disease. The vast majority of genes which are altered in the cancer cells are not transmitted through the germ line, but rather become abnormal in somatic cells sometime during the lifetime of the individual. Thus, the critical question which arises is "how do these genetic changes occur in somatic cells?". Epidemiologic data suggest that exposure to environmental carcinogens con tributes to the genesis of at least 80% of all human cancers (DOLL and PETO 1981). Thus, it is natural to suspect that the genetic changes in somatic cells which con tribute to the transformed phenotype arise from DNA damage caused by such exposures. Therefore, understanding how cells respond to DNA-damaging agents is likely to be an important component of our understanding of the genesis of human tumors.