A recent study has revealed that various plant species respond differently to the same evolutionary challenge, which could provide clues about aggressive cancer types.
Whole genome duplication (WGD) occurs across all life forms. It is particularly prevalent in plants and is also seen in certain aggressive cancers. When a cell undergoes WGD, it ends up with multiple genomes, resulting in a condition known as polyploidy.
Many of our staple crops are polyploid; this includes wheat, apples, bananas, oats, strawberries, sugar cane, and cabbage family vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Similarly, polyploidy is present in certain aggressive brain cancers known as gliomas and is linked to the advancement of cancer. Generally, polyploidy is associated with strength (as seen in crops) and the ability to adapt to harsh conditions (as in cancers that spread).
However, with more genomes to handle, having doubled genomes can pose challenges. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the factors that help stabilize newly formed polyploids and explore how these genome-doubled populations evolve.
A new study published in Cell Reports by researchers from the University’s School of Life Sciences investigates how three successful polyploid plant species have evolved to manage this additional DNA, and whether their approaches differ.
Professor Levi Yant, the study’s lead author, stated: “Grasping the various challenges faced by polyploids could shed light on why some thrive while others falter. We observe successful polyploids surmount specific DNA management issues, and our focus is on identifying their ‘natural solutions.’”
“In our research, we examined three instances where species adapted to the polyploid lifestyle and not only survived but flourished. We then determined if they employed similar molecular strategies for their survival. Surprisingly, they did not.”
The study identified a significant marker of swift adaptation to the polyploid condition related to the CENP-E molecule, which another research group recently identified as a vulnerability for polyploid cancers. This molecule presents a promising target for cancer treatments. Another notable signal emerged from ‘meiosis genes,’ which Professor Yant emphasizes are often activated in various cancers but remain inactive in almost all typical cells.
“We found indications of rapid adaptation to the WGD condition within the same molecular networks, including CENP-E, a crucial molecule specifically linked to polyploid cancers,” continued Professor Yant.
“Although WGD offers cancer a short-term edge against treatments, directing efforts toward the CENP-E molecule can effectively eliminate polyploid cancer cells. This serves as a remarkable illustration of evolutionary recurrence (or convergence), stemming from entirely different pathways yet addressing the same adaptive challenges. We can now utilize this model, which adapts well to polyploidy, to enhance our understanding of certain cancer types.”
The implications of this research could lead to greater insights into how some polyploid cancers, like gliomas, utilize polyploidy to advance, as well as which molecules could be targeted in therapies to eradicate cancer cells.
Furthermore, this study highlights the value of leveraging evolutionary biology to discover natural solutions that can influence future treatment strategies. Lastly, it demonstrates different methods we can adopt to improve our polyploid crops so they can better withstand catastrophic events, including climate change.
