Genome complexity: how to repair DNA (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, September 08, 2015, 19:54 (3365 days ago) @ David Turell

A different method of DNA repair using another guiding molecule:-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150908144143.htm-"Immediately after DNA damage occurs, H2AX gets a mark--it becomes tagged with a chemical moiety known as a phosphate. This process, called phosphorylation, occurs at sites of broken DNA as a way to mediate interactions between key proteins. In the study, the researchers wanted to learn more about how phosphorylation of H2AX helps mediate DNA repair.-***-"This technique enabled the researchers to identify not just the proteins that were known to strongly bind to H2AX and facilitate DNA repair, but also those that were considered "weak binders" as well, says Kleiner.-"Indeed, they found that part of a DNA repair protein known as 53BP1 fits over the phosphorylated part of H2AX "like a glove," says Kleiner. This interaction helps bring 53BP1 to the site of DNA damage, where it mediates the repair of double-stranded breaks in DNA by encouraging the repair machinery to glue the two ends back together.-"'We've identified a component of the DNA repair process that others had previously missed," notes Kleiner. "Scientists have known about 53BP1 for a long time, but didn't understand the function of this particular portion of the protein that interacts with the phosphorylation mark of H2AX. These findings help solve that mystery.'"-Comment: this is obviously intelligently constructed activity follow commands in the cell to protect original DNA coding.