New Study on Polyploid Plants Sheds Light on Cancer Treatment and Crop Resilience.
Recent research has delved into how polyploid plants adapt, offering potential breakthroughs for cancer treatment and enhancing the resilience of crops in the face of environmental challenges.
Understanding Whole Genome Duplication
Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a process that occurs across all life forms, though it is most common in plants. It also happens in certain aggressive cancers. When a cell undergoes WGD, it gains additional sets of genomes, becoming polyploid.
Many of the world’s key crops, such as wheat, apples, bananas, oats, strawberries, and brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower, are polyploid. Polyploidy is also found in some of the most aggressive brain cancers, known as gliomas, where it is linked to cancer progression. In general, polyploidy is associated with increased robustness in crops and enhanced adaptability in cancer cells.
However, managing these extra genomes can be challenging, making it crucial to understand the factors that stabilize young polyploids and how these genome-doubled populations evolve over time.
Research Findings on Polyploid Adaptation
In a study published in Cell Reports, researchers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Life Sciences investigated how three polyploid plant species evolved to manage their extra DNA. They examined whether these species adapted in similar or different ways.
Professor Levi Yant, who led the study, explained, “By understanding the challenges polyploids face, we can learn why some thrive while others do not. Our focus is on the ‘natural solutions’ these plants develop to overcome specific DNA management issues.”
The study revealed that the three species did not all adapt in the same way, despite their success as polyploids. A key discovery was the role of the CENP-E molecule, which other research has identified as a vulnerability in polyploid cancers, making it a promising target for cancer treatment. The study also found significant signals from ‘meiosis genes,’ which are typically activated in many cancers but remain inactive in most normal cells.
Implications for Cancer Research and Agriculture
Professor Yant highlighted that these findings point to a shared molecular adaptation in both polyploid plants and certain cancers. Specifically targeting the CENP-E molecule could be an effective strategy for treating polyploid cancers.
The research suggests that insights gained from studying polyploid plants can inform new approaches to cancer therapy, particularly for cancers like gliomas that exploit polyploidy to advance. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of evolutionary biology in developing future treatments.
Beyond cancer research, these findings could also lead to advancements in agriculture. By understanding how polyploid crops adapt to environmental stressors, scientists may be able to engineer crops that are more resilient to challenges such as climate change.