Single molecule mtDNA fiber FISH for analyzing numtogenesis.
Somatic human cells contain thousands of copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In eukaryotes, natural transfer of mtDNA into the nucleus generates nuclear mitochondrial DNA (NUMT) copies. We name this phenomenon as "numtogenesis". Numtogenesis is a well-established evolutionary process reported in various sequenced eukaryotic genomes. We have established a molecular tool to rapidly detect and analyze NUMT insertions in whole genomes. To date, NUMT analyses depend on deep genome sequencing combined with comprehensive computational analyses of the whole genome. This is time consuming, cumbersome and cost prohibitive. Further, most laboratories cannot accomplish such analyses due to limited skills. We report the development of single-molecule mtFIBER FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) to study numtogenesis. The development of mtFIBER FISH should aid in establishing a role for numtogenesis in cancers and other human diseases. This novel technique should help distinguish and monitor cancer stages and progression, aid in elucidation of basic mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and facilitate analyses of processes related to early detection of cancer, screening and/or cancer risk assessment.
Wheat Genetics Resources Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
Dal-Hoe
DH
Koo
Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
Bhupendra
B
Singh
Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
Jiming
J
Jiang
Wheat Genetics Resources Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
Bernd
B
Friebe
Wheat Genetics Resources Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
Bikarm S
BS
Gill
College of Osteopathic Medicine, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS, United States.
Paul D
PD
Chastain
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
Upender
U
Manne
Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
Hemant K
HK
Tiwari
Departments of Genetics, Pathology, Environmental Health, Center for Free Radical Biology, Center for Aging, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294, United States; Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Electronic address: kksingh@uab.edu.
Keshav K
KK
Singh
D001692:Biological Transport; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial