DNA Replication News and Research

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DNA replication, the basis for biological inheritance, is a fundamental process occurring in all living organisms to copy their DNA. This process is "semiconservative" in that each strand of the original double-stranded DNA molecule serves as template for the reproduction of the complementary strand. Hence, following DNA replication, two identical DNA molecules have been produced from a single double-stranded DNA molecule. Cellular proofreading and error-checking mechanisms ensure near perfect fidelity for DNA replication.

New method decodes the role of DDX41 protein in preventing double-strand breaks in DNA

There are many different ways in which the genetic material DNA can be damaged, resulting in the development of diseases such as cancer. Certain forms of DNA damage are associated with so-called R-loops.

8 Feb 2022

New machine-learning model could speed up the process of developing new medicines

Antibodies, small proteins produced by the immune system, can attach to specific parts of a virus to neutralize it.

1 Feb 2022

Cannabidiol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in human cells and mice

In research recently published in the journal of Science Advances, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Chicago assessed the potential role of cannabidiol (CBD), a natural product extracted from the cannabis plant, to prevent and inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in human cells and mice.

26 Jan 2022

UBR7 protein acts as a histone chaperone during DNA replication, study finds

The protein UBR7 acts as a histone chaperone, regulating histone re-deposition at specific sites during DNA replication, according a recent study published in The EMBO Journal.

20 Dec 2021

A Day in the Life of A Clinical Geneticist

In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Julian Barwell, a clinical geneticist, about his day-to-day roles and responsibilities as well as his career highlights.

17 Dec 2021

Researchers use gene-editing to create single sex mice litters

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, in collaboration with University of Kent, have used gene editing technology to create female-only and male-only mice litters with 100% efficiency.

6 Dec 2021

Error rate of bacterial DNA polymerase is consistently higher under microgravity, study shows

On 22 May 2019, scientists from Queen's University boarded a modified Falcon 20 aircraft at Ottawa airport. Scheduled was a 'vomit comet' flight, where the plane repeatedly climbs to 8km in a steep parabola, alternating with a descent in freefall.

29 Nov 2021

Finding potential biomarkers to predict response to immunotherapy in nonhypermutated cancers

Scientists have discovered a potential biomarker that could more accurately identify which patients with non-hypermutated cancers will respond to specialized immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to findings published in Science Translational Medicine.

24 Nov 2021

Cryo-EM reveals how the DNA replication machinery assembles at DNA damage sites

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has enabled researchers to study how the DNA replication machinery assembles at sites where DNA is damaged.

22 Nov 2021

Bioinformatics analysis identifies pathways involved in intestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers recently used bioinformatics analysis techniques to explore the diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in the human digestive tract.

22 Nov 2021

Scientists develop a single-cell chromatin atlas for the human genome

Researchers at University of California San Diego have produced a single-cell chromatin atlas for the human genome.

14 Nov 2021

Protein plays a previously unknown role in halting cell cycle in response to stressful conditions

UT Southwestern researchers have identified a new mechanism by which stress causes cells to stop dividing.

27 Oct 2021

Machine learning approach effective in predicting antibiotic resistance spread

Genes aren't only inherited through birth. Bacteria have the ability to pass genes to each other, or pick them up from their environment, through a process called horizonal gene transfer, which is a major culprit in the spread of antibiotic resistance.

22 Oct 2021

Aging may not be due to build-up of mutations alone, study suggests

New research exploring theories of ageing has found that small mutations accumulating in DNA are unlikely to be fully responsible for this process.

29 Sep 2021

Repeated injury to the epithelial tissue of airways causes "biological aging" of stem cells

Are prematurely aged or overworked stem cells a significant factor in chronic lung disease? Findings of a study just released in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM) say this is likely so.

22 Sep 2021

Rice lab receives NIH grant to unravel DNA’s secrets

The poor bacteriophages in Yang Gao's lab are about to have a lot of bad days.

28 Aug 2021

Melanoma mutations result from a chemical conversion in DNA fueled by sunlight, study reports

The mutations that give rise to melanoma result from a chemical conversion in DNA fueled by sunlight -; not just a DNA copying error as previously believed, reports a study by Van Andel Institute scientists published today in Science Advances.

30 Jul 2021

New insights on replication-stress sensitivity in breast cancer cells

Oncotarget published "Frame-shift mediated reduction of gain-of-function p53 R273H and deletion of the R273H C-terminus in breast cancer cells result in replication-stress sensitivity" which reported that these authors recently documented that gain-of-function mutant p53 R273H in triple negative breast cancer cells interacts with replicating DNA and PARP1.

28 Jul 2021

Repressing a protein that facilitates DNA repair to potentiate chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills tumor cells by causing damage to them. One of the most effective ways of causing damage is to prevent the two DNA strands from separating so that the cellular machinery cannot read the instructions written in the genes.

15 Jun 2021

USP7 inhibitors could increase the anticancer effects of CDK1 compounds in cancer patients

Understanding the components that control cell division is fundamental to understanding how life works and how alterations in this delicate process can cause diseases such as cancer.

19 Apr 2021