Transposable elements drive widespread expression of oncogenes in human cancers
- PMID: 30926969
- PMCID: PMC6443099
- DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0373-3
Transposable elements drive widespread expression of oncogenes in human cancers
Erratum in
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Author Correction: Transposable elements drive widespread expression of oncogenes in human cancers.Nat Genet. 2019 May;51(5):920. doi: 10.1038/s41588-019-0416-9. Nat Genet. 2019. PMID: 30992544
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are an abundant and rich genetic resource of regulatory sequences1-3. Cryptic regulatory elements within TEs can be epigenetically reactivated in cancer to influence oncogenesis in a process termed onco-exaptation4. However, the prevalence and impact of TE onco-exaptation events across cancer types are poorly characterized. Here, we analyzed 7,769 tumors and 625 normal datasets from 15 cancer types, identifying 129 TE cryptic promoter-activation events involving 106 oncogenes across 3,864 tumors. Furthermore, we interrogated the AluJb-LIN28B candidate: the genetic deletion of the TE eliminated oncogene expression, while dynamic DNA methylation modulated promoter activity, illustrating the necessity and sufficiency of a TE for oncogene activation. Collectively, our results characterize the global profile of TE onco-exaptation and highlight this prevalent phenomenon as an important mechanism for promiscuous oncogene activation and ultimately tumorigenesis.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing Interests:
Authors declare no competing interests.
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