Palindromic gene amplification--an evolutionarily conserved role for DNA inverted repeats in the genome.
The clinical importance of gene amplification in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been widely recognized, as it is often evident in advanced stages of diseases. However, our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is still limited. Gene amplification is an essential process in several organisms including the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, in which the initiating mechanism has been well characterized. Lessons from such simple eukaryotes may provide useful information regarding how gene amplification occurs in tumour cells.
Tanaka
Hisashi
H
Department of Molecular Genetics, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, 9,500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. tanakah@ccf.org
Yao
Meng-Chao
MC
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics