Engineering chromosome rearrangements in cancer

Chromosome Engineering: Technologies, Applications, and Challenges

Chromosome engineering is a transformative field at the cutting edge of biological science, offering unprecedented precision in manipulating large-scale genomic DNA within cells. This discipline is central to deciphering how the multifaceted roles of chromosomes-guarding genetic information, encoding sequence positional information, and influencing organismal traits-shape the genetic blueprint of life. This review comprehensively examines the technological advancements in chromosome engineering, which center on engineering chromosomal rearrangements, generating artificial chromosomes, de novo synthesizing chromosomes, and transferring chromosomes. Additionally, we introduce the application progress of chromosome engineering in basic and applied research fields, showcasing its capacity to deepen our knowledge of genetics and catalyze breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the challenges the field faces and highlight the profound implications that chromosome engineering holds for the future of modern biology and medical applications.

Revisiting the role of the spindle assembly checkpoint in the formation of gross chromosomal rearrangements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Multiple pathways are known to suppress the formation of gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs), which can cause human diseases including cancer. In contrast, much less is known about pathways that promote their formation. The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which ensures the proper separation of chromosomes during mitosis, has been reported to promote GCR, possibly by delaying mitosis to allow GCR-inducing DNA repair to occur. Here, we show that this conclusion is the result of an experimental artifact arising from the synthetic lethality caused by the disruption of the SAC and loss of the CIN8 gene, which is often lost in the genetic assay used to select for GCRs. After correcting for this artifact, we find no role of the SAC in promoting GCR.

How CRISPR Is Revolutionizing the Generation of New Models for Cancer Research

Cancers arise through acquisition of mutations in genes that regulate core biological processes like cell proliferation and cell death. Decades of cancer research have led to the identification of genes and mutations causally involved in disease development and evolution, yet defining their precise function across different cancer types and how they influence therapy responses has been challenging. Mouse models have helped define the in vivo function of cancer-associated alterations, and genome-editing approaches using CRISPR have dramatically accelerated the pace at which these models are developed and studied. Here, we highlight how CRISPR technologies have impacted the development and use of mouse models for cancer research and discuss the many ways in which these rapidly evolving platforms will continue to transform our understanding of this disease.

CRISPR in cancer biology and therapy

Over the past decade, CRISPR has become as much a verb as it is an acronym, transforming biomedical research and providing entirely new approaches for dissecting all facets of cell biology. In cancer research, CRISPR and related tools have offered a window into previously intractable problems in our understanding of cancer genetics, the noncoding genome and tumour heterogeneity, and provided new insights into therapeutic vulnerabilities. Here, we review the progress made in the development of CRISPR systems as a tool to study cancer, and the emerging adaptation of these technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment.