Logo image
Causes and consequences of micronuclei
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Causes and consequences of micronuclei

Ksenia Krupina, Alexander Goginashvili and Don W Cleveland
Current opinion in cell biology, Vol.70, pp.91-99
06/01/2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2021.01.004
PMID: 33610905
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceb.2021.01.004View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Micronuclei are small membrane-bounded compartments with a DNA content encapsulated by a nuclear envelope and spatially separated from the primary nucleus. Micronuclei have long been linked to chromosome instability, genome rearrangements, and mutagenesis. They are frequently found in cancers, during senescence, and after genotoxic stress. Compromised integrity of the micronuclear envelope delays or disrupts DNA replication, inhibits DNA repair, and exposes micronuclear DNA directly to cytoplasm. Micronuclei play a central role in tumorigenesis, with micronuclear DNA being a source of complex genome rearrangements (including chromothripsis) and promoting a cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-mediated cellular immune response that may contribute to cancer metastasis. Here, we discuss recent findings on how micronuclei are generated, what the consequences are, and what cellular mechanisms can be applied to protect against micronucleation.
Cell Biology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology

Details

Metrics

1 Record Views
Logo image