Harnessing transposons for cancer gene discovery.
Recently, it has become possible to mobilize the Tc1/mariner transposon, Sleeping Beauty (SB), in mouse somatic cells at frequencies high enough to induce cancer. Tumours result from SB insertional mutagenesis of cancer genes, thus facilitating the identification of the genes and signalling pathways that drive tumour formation. A conditional SB transposition system has also been developed that makes it possible to limit where SB mutagenesis occurs, providing a means to selectively model many types of human cancer. SB mutagenesis has already identified a large collection of known cancer genes in addition to a plethora of new candidate cancer genes and potential drug targets.
Copeland
Neal G
NG
Genomics and Genetics Division, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673.
Jenkins
Nancy A
NA
D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements