Genomic analysis of cancer tissue reveals that somatic mutations commonly occur in a specific motif.

ABSTRACT: Somatic mutations are hallmarks of cancer progression. We sequenced 26 matched human prostate tumor and constitutional DNA samples for somatic alterations in the SRD5A2, HPRT, and HSD3B2 genes, and identified 71 nucleotide substitutions. Of these substitutions, 79% (56/71) occur within a WKVnRRRnVWK sequence (a novel motif we call THEMIS [from the ancient Greek goddess of prophecy]: W=A/T, K=G/T, V=G/A/C, R=purine (A/G), and n=any nucleotide), with one mismatch allowed. Literature searches identified this motif with one mismatch allowed in 66% (37/56) of the somatic prostate cancer mutations and in 74% (90/122) of the somatic breast cancer mutations found in all human genes analyzed. We also found the THEMIS motif with one allowed mismatch in 88% (23/26) of the ras1 gene somatic mutations

SUBMITTER: Makridakis NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2734471 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature