Genetic alterations of SUGP1 mimic mutant-SF3B1 splice pattern in lung adenocarcinoma and other cancers

International audienceGenes involved in 3′-splice site recognition during mRNA splicing constitute an emerging class of oncogenes. SF3B1 is the most frequently mutated splicing factor in cancer, and SF3B1 mutants corrupt branchpoint recognition leading to usage of cryptic 3′-splice sites and subsequent aberrant junctions. For a comprehensive determination of alterations leading to this splicing pattern, we performed a pan-TCGA screening for SF3B1-specific aberrant acceptor usage. While the most of aberrant 3′-splice patterns were explained by SF3B1 mutations, we also detected nine SF3B1 wild-type tumors (including five lung adenocarcinomas). Genomic profile analysis of these tumors identified somatic mutations combined with loss-of-heterozygosity in the splicing factor SUGP1 in five of these cases. Modeling of SUGP1 loss and mutations in cell lines showed that both alterations induced mutant-SF3B1-like aberrant splicing. Our study provides definitive evidence that genetic alterations of SUGP1 genocopy SF3B1 mutations in lung adenocarcinoma and other cancers

Two-Way Chemical Communication between Artificial and Natural Cells

Artificial cells capable of both sensing and sending chemical messages to bacteria have yet to be built. Here we show that artificial cells that are able to sense and synthesize quorum signaling molecules can chemically communicate with <i>V. fischeri</i>, <i>V. harveyi</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, and <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Activity was assessed by fluorescence, luminescence, RT-qPCR, and RNA-seq. Two potential applications for this technology were demonstrated. First, the extent to which artificial cells could imitate natural cells was quantified by a type of cellular Turing test. Artificial cells capable of sensing and in response synthesizing and releasing <i>N</i>-3-(oxohexanoyl)­homoserine lactone showed a high degree of likeness to natural <i>V. fischeri</i> under specific test conditions. Second, artificial cells that sensed <i>V. fischeri</i> and in response degraded a quorum signaling molecule of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (<i>N</i>-(3-oxododecanoyl)­homoserine lactone) were constructed, laying the foundation for future technologies that control complex networks of natural cells