Whole-genome-sequencing (WGS) of human tumours has revealed distinct mutation patterns that hint at the causative origins of cancer. We examined mutational-signatures in 324 WGS of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) following exposure to known or suspected environmental carcinogens. 79 agents were tested with or without metabolic activation at concentrations that produced measurable cytotoxicity; 41 yielded characteristic substitution mutational signatures. Some exhibit similarity with signatures found in human tumours. Additionally, 6 agents produced double-substitution signatures and 8 produced indel signatures. Investigating mutation asymmetries across genome topography reveals fully functional mismatch and transcription-couple... (Read more)

Analysis of mutational signatures caused by exposure to known mutagens in human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. A reference human iPS cell-line will be exposed to 100 chemicals known or proposed to be mutagenic. Following exposure to mutagen, cells will undergo a period of recovery before sub clones are generated and sequenced. The progenitor "parental" IPS cell-line will be used to generate reference sequence data, in order to determine the mutational signatures acquired as a result of exposure to different mutagens.