Extrachromosomal Circular DNA

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is circular DNA found in the nuclei of plant and animal cells, including human cells, in addition to chromosomal DNA. eccDNA can be from 200 up to 5 million base pairs in length[1]. eccDNA has been found in the nuclei of human cancer cells and shown to carry many copies of driver oncogenes which are transcribed in tumour cells.[2] Based on this evidence it is thought that eccDNA contributes to cancer growth.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Elizabeth Pennisi (2017) Circular DNA throws biologists for a loop Science 09 Jun 2017 Vol. 356, Issue 6342, pp. 996
  2. ↑ Kristen M. Turner, et all (2017) Extrachromosomal oncogene amplification drives tumour evolution and genetic heterogeneity Nature 543, 122–125 (02 March 2017)
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