Sequencing chemically induced mutations in the mutamouse lacz reporter gene identifies human cancer mutational signatures

Transgenic rodent (TGR) models use bacterial reporter genes to quantify in vivo mutagenesis. Pairing TGR assays with next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables comprehensive mutation spectrum analysis to inform mutational mechanisms. We used this approach to identify 2,751 independent lacZ mutations in the bone marrow of MutaMouse animals exposed to four chemical mutagens: benzo[a]pyrene, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, procarbazine, and triethylenemelamine. We also collected published data for 706 lacZ mutations from eight additional environmental mutagens. We demonstrate that lacZ gene sequencing generates chemical-specific mutation signatures observed in human cancers with established environmental causes. For example, the mutation signature of benzo[a]pyrene, a potent carcinogen in tobacco smoke, matched the signature associated with tobacco-induced lung cancers. Our results show that the analysis of chemically induced mutations in the lacZ gene shortly after exposure provides an effective approach to characterize human-relevant mechanisms of carcinogenesis and identify novel environmental causes of mutation signatures observed in human cancers.