Junk DNA could help diagnose cancer
11 Mar 2010 by Evoluted New Media
Genetic rogue elements produced by ‘junk DNA’ could help diagnose breast and bowel cancers according to scientists at the University of Nottingham.
Genetic rogue elements produced by ‘junk DNA’ could help diagnose breast and bowel cancers according to scientists at the University of Nottingham.
Researchers – led by Dr Cristina Tufarelli – discovered seven faulty gene elements were common in breast cancer cells, with five appearing only in cancerous cells and two in cancerous and normal cells. Further research showed two rogue elements in bowel cancer cell lines, suggesting the sequences could play a part in cancer progression.
“This study has generated new research to investigate the role of ‘junk DNA’ in cancer development,” Dr Tufarelli said, “The next step is to find out if the switching on of these genes is driving cancer or if they are a result of cancer.”
The rogue elements – chimeric transcripts – are produced by DNA sequences called LINE-1 (L1). Although labelled as junk DNA – because their function has not been identified – these sequences may have important roles in the genome, such as influencing when genes are switched on.
L1 is able to randomly turn on nearby genes, but when inappropriately switched on, genes can make genetic rogue elements that sabotage normal functioning of the cells. Normal cells silence L1s with a chemical off switch, but this is often missing in cancerous cells leading to the production of rogue elements.
“If this ‘junk DNA’ does turn out to play a role in cancer, then we could be at the tip of the iceberg in understanding a completely new mechanism behind the disease. If we do find out that they are playing a role then they could be useful targets for new treatments,” Dr Tufarelli said.
The research was funded by Cancer Research UK. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information said: “These really interesting findings are the most comprehensive study of these transcripts that have ever been carried out. We are learning more about the genes involved in cancer but these so called ‘junk’ regions receive relatively little attention. We are beginning to see that they could play a really important role.”
