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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Genet. 2022 Aug 11;23(12):760–771. doi: 10.1038/s41576-022-00521-5

Figure 2. EcDNA life cycle.

Figure 2.

Following DNA breakage, extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) structures are formed through end-to-end ligation. Chromothripsis creates massive rearrangements and, like breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles, can result in complex ecDNA structures. EcDNA structures may evolve by acquiring new genome segments following additional breakage events, including through merging of co-existing ecDNAs. Selective pressure and linear DNA damage may cause ecDNA molecules to reintegrate into the linear genome and generate homogeneously staining regions (HSRs). Upon removal of selection pressure or changing circumstances, reintegrated ecDNAs may re-emerge.