The research team at Stanford University School of Medicine has a remarkable insight that the enzymes inside cells that would repair damaged DNA sometimes can wrecked it. With this information, it can lead to better understanding of he causes of some types of cancer and neurodegenerative disease. The paper that is to be published explains how the mechanism of DNA damage occurs when genetic transcript, composed of RNA, stick to the DNA instead of detaching from it. Enzymes like endonuclease are attached to DNA/RNA hybrids that form when the gene transcription goes the wrong way and the enzyme ends up cutting the DNA like scissors to damage it.
The research was conducted with human cells in culture using molecular biology techniques to turn off specific genes. By using this way, the researchers are able to induce cells to form hybrids and to see what would happen if different enzyme were inhibited. There is evidence of same enzyme helping to repair DNA lesions from sunlight and certain chemicals; also that same enzyme has same structure that is similar to those formed in cells damaged by ultraviolet light. The next step for the researchers is to try to understand why some of the enzymes are that control the transcription car causing DNA damage. This is a very interesting find in the DNA transcription.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/286147.php
Knowing that there is an enzyme that can both fix and destroy DNA is awesome but scary at the same time. But it's a good discovery because it will hopefully lead to more research and a better understanding of it. Then maybe we can learn how to prevent it from damaging our DNA.
ReplyDeleteThe discovery of this enzyme can help lead to a greater understanding of the damaging of DNA and the functions of RNA in the body. Better understanding of the enzyme and its mechanism can help scientists find what causes it to damage DNA.
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