Skip to main content

3D Genomic Maps

Cancer's Progress Detailed by 3D Genomic Maps


Researchers have long known that cancer alters its genome as it evolves. What has been less clear is how, when, and why genomic structures change as cancer progresses. A new Yale study published Aug. 18 in Nature Genetics reveals critical insights and potential biomarkers of stage-specific cancer development.

Using a technique called chromatin tracing, Yale researchers created detailed 3D maps of genome structures in individual cells in mouse models of lung and pancreatic cancers, driven by the cancer-causing gene KRAS. The maps reveal how chromosomes fold and genes are positioned in the cell nucleus. They also chart cancer’s route from pre-cancerous to advanced disease, even identifying different cancer cell states based solely on the 3D structure of their genomes.

“Importantly, using the unprecedented 3D genome maps, we developed new ways to better nominate cancer-driving genes. These are potential new drug targets for lung cancer, the top cause of cancer death worldwide,” says co-senior author Siyuan (Steven) Wang, PhD, associate professor of genetics and cell biology at Yale School of Medicine (YSM).

“On the basic genome biology side, we also discovered a completely new function for how the 3D genome is compartmentalized to enable single cancer cells to progress to more advanced states,” he says, Co-senior author Mandar Deepak Muzumdar, MD, associate professor of genetics and of internal medicine (oncology) at YSM says: “Although cancers are thought to be quite heterogeneous, what is remarkable is that the global 3D structure of the genome evolves similarly in cancer cells within and across tumors in these models.

“By focusing specifically on these convergent, stereotypical changes, how they are regulated, and how they impact gene expression, we identified novel genes that delineate cancer prognosis and are crucial for cancer cells to grow,” says Muzumdar, who is a member of Yale Cancer Biology Institute and Yale Cancer Center. The study suggests that the detailed data resulting from this method and its broad application could improve future cancer diagnostics and staging, as well as help identify new therapy targets by understanding what cancerous cells need to survive and thrive.

The study was led by Yale’s Department of Genetics at YSM, including co-first authors Miao Liu, PhD; Shengyan Jin, PhD; and Sherry S. Agabiti, PhD. Other contributors included numerous YSM departments, Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale Center for RNA Science and Medicine, Yale Liver Center, and Yale Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics.

Using the advanced cancer 3D genome mapping methodologies established in this work, the researchers are next investigating additional subtypes of lung and pancreatic cancers and directly studying human patient samples, in collaboration with other investigators at the Yale Cancer Center. “These 3D genome maps are just the tip of the iceberg,” say Drs. Muzumdar and Wang. “We are just getting started in using this new type of single-cell biologic information to uncover cancer’s untold secrets, aiming to improve treatment and clinical outcomes in the long-term.”

genome sequencing, genome editing, human genome, comparative genomics, genome mapping, structural genomics, functional genomics, microbial genomics, plant genomics, animal genomics, genome variation, genome-wide association studies, mitochondrial genome, epigenomics, genome annotation, metagenomics, genome informatics, personalized genomics, genome evolution

#GenomeSequencing, #GenomeEditing, #HumanGenome, #ComparativeGenomics, #GenomeMapping, #StructuralGenomics, #FunctionalGenomics, #MicrobialGenomics, #PlantGenomics, #AnimalGenomics, #GenomeVariation, #GWAS, #MitochondrialGenome, #Epigenomics, #GenomeAnnotation, #Metagenomics, #GenomeInformatics, #PersonalizedGenomics, #GenomeEvolution, #SyntheticGenomics

International Conference on Genetics and Genomics of Diseases

Visit: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com

Award Nomination: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com/award-nomination/?ecategory=Awards&rcategory=Awardee

Award registration: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com/award-registration/

For Enquiries: support@healthcarek.com

Get Connected Here
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
in.pinterest.com/Dorita0211
twitter.com/Dorita_02_11_
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555903296992
instagram.com/p/C4ukfcOsK36
genetics-awards.blogspot.com/
youtube.com/@GeneticsHealthcare
linkedin.com/in/genetics-research-160337363/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Genetics role in ovarian cancer

The Medical Minute: Genetics play big role in ovarian cancer In 2024, about 19,680 women in the United States will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and 12,740 women will die from the disease, said Dr. Shaina Bruce , a gynecologic oncologist at Penn State Cancer Institute . The median age of all patients who develop ovarian cancer is 63. Historically, women at increased risk for ovarian cancer are recommended to have their fallopian tubes and ovaries removed when they have completed having children. Taking that step to protect themselves comes at a heavy price ― surgical menopause. But Bruce said medical science is catching up with ovarian cancer. Studies could lead to new methods for preventative care and the surgery needed to lower risk may be easier than it once was. Below, during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Bruce discusses the disease and why acting to reduce your risk is worth it. What’s the connection between heredity and ovarian cancer? About 25% of all cases of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

X chromosome

Gene on the X chromosome may help explain high multiple sclerosis rates in women Brain inflammation may be fueled by a gene on the X chromosome, a new study in mice suggests. And in female mice, who carry two X chromosomes, a diabetes drug called metformin may work to counteract that inflammation. If these findings bear out in later studies, they could help to unravel the long-standing mystery of why women, who have two copies of this inflammation-driving gene, are more prone to certain autoimmune diseases, particularly after menopause. A disparity between the sexes Our bodies are patrolled by immune cells that provide protection against bacteria and viruses, but sometimes, these defenses turn on us. In the autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), for instance, the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty insulation surrounding the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to symptoms such as muscle weakness and difficulty walking, as well issues with memory and thinking...
Post a Comment
Read more

Multifactorial Genetic Conditions

Multifactorial Genetic Conditions Multifactorial genetic conditions are disorders caused by the combined effects of multiple genes and environmental factors , rather than a single gene mutation . These conditions do not follow classic Mendelian inheritance patterns and instead result from complex gene–environment interactions . Factors such as lifestyle, nutrition, infections, stress, and exposure to toxins can significantly influence disease onset and severity in genetically susceptible individuals. Common examples include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases , neural tube defects, asthma, and many neuropsychiatric disorders. Understanding multifactorial inheritance is essential for risk prediction, preventive medicine, and personalized healthcare strategies. Multifactorial inheritance, polygenic traits, gene–environment interaction, complex diseases, genetic susceptibility, environmental risk factors, non-Mendelian inheritance, disease predisposition, polygenic risk score, precision ...
Post a Comment
Read more