Theoretical mechanisms for synthesis of carcinogen-induced embryonic proteins: XXVI. Evolutionary significance of carcinogen-induced embryonic gene activity.
Besides the major theme of this series of writings--that chemically derepressed embryonic genes are fundamental to the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, there appear to be other significant aspects to this process. Yeast cells have the ability to differentially respond to carcinogens and non-carcinogens by the activation of embryonic type genes that are also found in mammals. This strange relationship is interpreted here as being due to certain phylogetically conserved genes from yeasts existing also in mammals that are used in both organisms for the same process. For example, a protooncogene found in yeast cells or embryonic cells serves for rapid mitosis. Also yeast mating type genes have high homologies to homeotic domains and therefore may be prototype genes of homeotic genes, which are embryonic type genes in animals.
Canadian Institute of Theoretical Biology, Scott's Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Hancock
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes; D010802:Phylogeny; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism
D002273:Carcinogens; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases