Gene amplification

Gene amplification is a process that results in the production of multiple copies of a gene. This process is a common mechanism in cancer cells, where it can lead to an overproduction of proteins that promote cell growth and division.

Overview

Gene amplification is a natural process that occurs in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It is a form of genetic recombination that can result in the duplication of a specific gene or a larger region of the genome. This can lead to an increase in the number of copies of a gene, which can in turn increase the production of the protein that the gene codes for.

In cancer cells, gene amplification can lead to the overproduction of proteins that promote cell growth and division. This can contribute to the development and progression of cancer.

Mechanism

Gene amplification can occur through a variety of mechanisms. One common mechanism is through the formation of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), which are small, circular pieces of DNA that contain one or more genes. These ecDNA can replicate independently of the rest of the genome, leading to an increase in the number of copies of the genes they contain.

Another mechanism of gene amplification is through the duplication of a region of the genome within a chromosome. This can occur through a process called unequal crossing over, where a misalignment during genetic recombination leads to the duplication of a region of the genome.

Role in Cancer

In cancer cells, gene amplification can lead to the overproduction of proteins that promote cell growth and division. This can contribute to the development and progression of cancer. For example, the HER2 gene, which codes for a protein that promotes cell growth, is often amplified in breast cancer cells. This leads to an overproduction of the HER2 protein, which can promote the growth and division of the cancer cells.

See Also

• Genetic recombination
• Cancer
• HER2

References

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