Migration of mitochondrial DNA in the nuclear genome of colorectal adenocarcinoma
A partir de données du projet "The Cancer Genome Atlas" portant sur des échantillons d'adénocarcinomes du rectum ou du côlon, cette étude identifie la présence, dans le génome nucléaire, d'ADN mitochondrial présentant des anomalies du nombre de copies
Colorectal adenocarcinomas are characterized by abnormal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and genomic instability, but a molecular interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear genome remains unknown. Here we report the discovery of increased copies of nuclear mtDNA (NUMT) in colorectal adenocarcinomas, which supports link between mtDNA and genomic instability in the nucleus. We name this phenomenon of nuclear occurrence of mitochondrial component as numtogenesis. We provide a description of NUMT abundance and distribution in tumor versus matched blood-derived normal genomes.