The haplotype-resolved genome and epigenome of the aneuploidy HeLa cancer cell line.

Adey and colleagues sequenced the haplotype-resolved whole genome of the HeLa cancer cell line. This showed a highly rearranged region at chromosome 8q24.21, where an integration locus of the HPV (human papillomavirus, type 18) was found, making it responsible both for her cervical carcinoma and death, and the immortalizing properties of this cell line. The authors also showed that this integrated HPV-18 genome caused a strong activation of the common proto-oncogene now known as Myc which is responsible for the carcinogenic action of the virus.

(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)