Adopting duplex sequencing technology for genetic toxicity testing: A proof-of-concept mutagenesis experiment with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-exposed rats.

Duplex sequencing (DS) is an error-corrected next-generation sequencing method in which molecular barcodes informatically link PCR-copies back to their source DNA strands, enabling computational removal of errors in consensus sequences. The resulting background of less than one artifactual mutation per 107 nucleotides allows for direct detection of somatic mutations. TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc. has developed a DS-based mutagenesis assay to sample the rat genome, which can be applied to genetic toxicity testing. To evaluate this assay for early detection of mutagenesis, a time-course study was conducted using male Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats (3 per group) administered a single dose of 40 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) via gavage, with mutation frequency (MF) and spectrum analyzed in stomach, bone marrow, blood, and liver tissues at 3 h, 24 h, 7 d, and 28 d post-exposure. Significant increases in MF were observed in ENU-exposed rats as early as 24 h for stomach (site of contact) and bone marrow (a highly proliferative tissue) and at 7 d for liver and blood. The canonical, mutational signature of ENU was established by 7 d post-exposure in all four tissues. Interlaboratory analysis of a subset of samples from different tissues and time points demonstrated remarkable reproducibility for both MF and spectrum. These results demonstrate that MF and spectrum can be evaluated successfully by directly sequencing targeted regions of DNA obtained from various tissues⁠, a considerable advancement compared to currently used in vivo gene mutation assays.

Adopting Duplex Sequencing™ Technology for Genetic Toxicity Testing: A Proof-of-Concept Mutagenesis Experiment with N-Ethyl-N-Nitrosourea (ENU)-Exposed Rats.

Duplex sequencing (DuplexSeq) is an error-corrected next-generation sequencing (ecNGS) method in which molecular barcodes informatically link PCR-copies back to their source DNA strands, enabling computational removal of errors by comparing grouped strand sequencing reads. The resulting background of less than one artifactual mutation per 10 7 nucleotides allows for direct detection of somatic mutations. TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc. has developed a DuplexSeq-based mutagenesis assay to sample the rat genome, which can be applied to genetic toxicity testing. To evaluate this assay for early detection of mutagenesis, a time-course study was conducted using male Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats (3 per group) administered a single dose of 40 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) via gavage, with mutation frequency (MF) and spectrum analyzed in stomach, bone marrow, blood, and liver tissues at 3 h, 24 h, 7 d, and 28 d post-exposure. Significant increases in MF were observed in ENU-exposed rats as early as 24 h for stomach (site of contact) and bone marrow (a highly proliferative tissue) and at 7 d for liver and blood. The canonical, mutational signature of ENU was established by 7 d post-exposure in all four tissues. Interlaboratory analysis of a subset of samples from different tissues and time points demonstrated remarkable reproducibility for both MF and spectrum. These results demonstrate that MF and spectrum can be evaluated successfully by directly sequencing targeted regions of DNA obtained from various tissues, a considerable advancement compared to currently used in vivo gene mutation assays. HIGHLIGHTS: DuplexSeq is an ultra-accurate NGS technology that directly quantifies mutationsENU-dependent mutagenesis was detected 24 h post-exposure in proliferative tissuesMultiple tissues exhibited the canonical ENU mutation spectrum 7 d after exposureResults obtained with DuplexSeq were highly concordant between laboratoriesThe Rat-50 Mutagenesis Assay is promising for applications in genetic toxicology.

Ultra-Sensitive TP53 Sequencing for Cancer Detection Reveals Progressive Clonal Selection in Normal Tissue over a Century of Human Lifespan.

High-accuracy next-generation DNA sequencing promises a paradigm shift in early cancer detection by enabling the identification of mutant cancer molecules in minimally invasive body fluid samples. We demonstrate 80% sensitivity for ovarian cancer detection using ultra-accurate Duplex Sequencing to identify TP53 mutations in uterine lavage. However, in addition to tumor DNA, we also detect low-frequency TP53 mutations in nearly all lavages from women with and without cancer. These mutations increase with age and share the selection traits of clonal TP53 mutations commonly found in human tumors. We show that low-frequency TP53 mutations exist in multiple healthy tissues, from newborn to centenarian, and progressively increase in abundance and pathogenicity with older age across tissue types. Our results illustrate that subclonal cancer evolutionary processes are a ubiquitous part of normal human aging, and great care must be taken to distinguish tumor-derived from age-associated mutations in high-sensitivity clinical cancer diagnostics.