Molecular security system protecting cells from harmful DNA discovered
January 11th, 2010 - 1:36 pm ICT by ANILondon, Jan 11 (ANI): University of Minnesota researchers have discovered a molecular security system in human cells that deactivates and degrades foreign DNA- a feat that could pave the way to major improvements in genetic engineering and gene therapy technologies.Led by Dr. Reuben Harris, the researchers showed how APOBEC3A, an enzyme found in human immune cells, disables double-stranded foreign DNA by changing cytosines (one of the four main bases in DNA) to uracils (an atypical DNA base).
Persisting DNA uracils result in mutations that disable the DNA.
In addition, the authors show that other enzymes step in to degrade the uracil-containing foreign DNA and sweep its remains out of the cell.
“Scientists have known for a long time that some human cells take up DNA better than others, but we haven’t had good molecular explanations. This is definitely one of the reasons. Foreign DNA restriction is a fundamental process that could have broad implications for a variety of genetic diseases,” Nature quoted Harris as saying.
Knowing how the mechanism works, scientists can develop ways to manipulate it to enable more effective methods to swap bad genes for good ones.
Harris also wants to learn why the mechanism doesn’t affect a cell’s own DNA.
The discovery of an analogous foreign DNA restriction mechanism in bacteria launched the field of genetic engineering during the 1970s.
Once bacterial DNA restriction enzymes were understood, their power was harnessed to cut and paste segments of DNA for a wide variety of therapeutic and industrial purposes.
The findings of the study will be published online in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. (ANI)
- Discovery suggests new way to prevent HIV from infecting human cells - Dec 23, 2010
- New personalized therapy to 'fool cancer cells into killing themselves' - Mar 01, 2011
- Soon, genetically modified mosquitoes to curb malaria - May 02, 2011
- How DNA silencing can promote cancer formation - Apr 02, 2011
- How sickle haemoglobin protects against malaria - Apr 29, 2011
- How DNA forms human proteins can be followed in real time - Jul 19, 2010
- Mechanism that could provide potential cure for diabetes identified - Apr 30, 2011
- 'All cancer cells are immortal' theory exposed as a myth - Apr 22, 2011
- Study offers potential new targets for novel anti-HIV drugs - Mar 26, 2011
- Gene therapy to brain may treat major depression - Oct 21, 2010
- Hidden DNA code more influential than our genes - Sep 19, 2011
- Scientists alter genetic code to cure hereditary disease - Jun 27, 2011
- New process to 'program' cancer cell death created - Sep 08, 2010
- Re-engineering mosquito's immunity to block malaria - Dec 29, 2011
- New discovery holds promise for liver cancer treatment - Mar 23, 2011
Tags: bacteria, bacterial dna, bad genes, dna base, dna restriction enzymes, explanations, gene therapy, genetic diseases, genetic engineering, human cells, human immune cells, industrial purposes, london jan, minnesota researchers, mutations, nature structural and molecular biology, reuben, security system, university of minnesota, uracil