Horizontal gene transfer: you are what you eat.
Horizontal or lateral gene transfer is an effective mechanism for the exchange of genetic information in bacteria allowing bacterial diversification and facilitating adaptation to new environments. Recent data demonstrate that DNA may also be transferred between somatic cells via the uptake of apoptotic bodies. This process allows transfer of viral genes that have been incorporated into the genome in a receptor-independent fashion. Transferred DNA is replicated and propagated in daughter cells in cell that have an inactivated DNA response which may impact tumor progression.
Holmgren
Lars
L
Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, R8:03 CCK, Karolinska Hospital, SE 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. lars.holmgren@ki.se
D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C019329:deoxyribonuclease II