Vital Information about Mechanisms Governing DNA repair

Damage of DNA can lead to serious diseases like cancer. The damage can lead to inactivation or not properly regulated genes. With DNA repair however, cells can survive after damages. Antoine Simoneau of Dr. Hugo Wurtele's laboratory at  Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital has found some very important information about the DNA repairs, that could eventually lead to more research that could help with the cure of cancer.

HDAC Structure

While using yeast as their model system they found the mechanisms that influence cell growth with the presence of a certain class of HDACs (histone deacetlyases). The DNA can adopt to a small enough size to be able to wrap around the histones and form chromatin. The cells can now chemically modify the histones and the chromatin can change the structure to be able to control various functions of the DNA. This entire process has been show to be a promising treatment for cancer. In particular, class III HDAC which influences cellular processes involved in carcinogens and response to chemotherapy agents. These agents strongly block the rapid multiplication of cells by preventing the normal functions involved in the response of DNA damage spontaneously generated by cellular metabolism.
With this new information on basic research there is now an open door for more research and eventually clinical uses. Dr. Wurtele's lab will further their research to determine how this new class of drugs inhibits cancer cell growth.

Though there is not much research on this topic it does seem promising for cancer. I would like to see how this research works toward different types of cancer and the rapid growth of certain cell growth. The new class of drugs I think will be a great step forward toward the inhabitation of the cancer cells or at least a possibility of slowing the growth down.