As you will learn later in this chapter, cancer cells from patients with Burkitt lymphoma carry a reciprocal chromosomal translocation between chromosome 8 and another chromosome, often 22. Each patient exhibits a unique pattern of chromosome breakage (“breakpoints”) and reattachment, but each cell from that patient carries the same breakpoints. From this result, what can you conclude regarding how the lymphoma arose?
To determine: The reason for the development of Burkitt lymphoma..
Introduction: The chromosomal translocation can result in the development of various types of cancers like Burkitt’s lymphoma. The starting point for all the cancers is the disturbance in the regulatory mechanism of the cell cycle. When cell cycle regulation is affected, it leads to the uncontrolled growth of the cells. The body has mechanisms for the prevention of such conditions by apoptosis and activation of the tumor suppressor gene, but failure of these mechanisms result in the development of cancer.
Explanation of Solution
The various cellular abnormalities which result in the development of the Burkitt’s lymphoma are as follows:
- It is caused by the translocation of the proto-oncogene which is called as MYC.
- This gene is normally present on the chromosome 8 but is translocated to chromosome 14.
- The region of chromosome 14 where MYC gene is translocated is a very high expression area as it is used to produce antibodies.
- The MYC gene encodes for Myc protein which acts as transcription factor for cell proliferation.
- Since MYC gene is now in the high expression region, it is also expressed along with the antibody producing genes.
- The increased concentration of the MYC gene results in the production of excess amount of MYC protein.
- The excessive amount of this transcription factor results in the excessive proliferation of the lymphocytes; thereby, causing the cancer.
Hence chromosomal abnormalities result in the development of Burkitt’s lymphoma.
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Chapter 26 Solutions
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