Comparative analysis of cancer genes in the human and chimpanzee genomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer is a major medical problem in modern societies. However, the incidence of this disease in non-human primates is very low. To study whether genetic differences between human and chimpanzee could contribute to their distinct cancer susceptibility, we have examined in the chimpanzee genome the orthologous genes of a set of 333 human cancer genes.

Results

This analysis has revealed that all examined human cancer genes are present in chimpanzee, contain intact open reading frames and show a high degree of conservation between both species. However, detailed analysis of this set of genes has shown some differences in genes of special relevance for human cancer. Thus, the chimpanzee gene encoding p53 contains a Pro residue at codon 72, while this codon is polymorp

SUBMITTER: Puente XS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1382208 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature