Circular ecDNA promotes accessible chromatin and high oncogene expression.

ABSTRACT: Oncogenes are commonly amplified on particles of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in cancer^1,2, but our understanding of the structure of ecDNA and its effect on gene regulation is limited. Here, by integrating ultrastructural imaging, long-range optical mapping and computational analysis of whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrate the structure of circular ecDNA. Pan-cancer analyses reveal that oncogenes encoded on ecDNA are among the most highly expressed genes in the transcriptome of the tumours, linking increased copy number with high transcription levels. Quantitative assessment of the chromatin state reveals that although ecDNA is packaged into chromatin with intact domain structure, it lacks higher-order compaction that is typical of chromosomes and displays significantly enha

SUBMITTER: Wu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7094777 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature