Researchers discover protein complex that inhibits DNA repair --- and find a way to suppress it
(Photo credit: CDC on Unsplash)
DNA is under continuing assault from outside forces, as well as our body’s own normal metabolism. So it needs protecting — and our cells have precise mechanisms to do just that/
But those repair mechanisms themselves can be under attack, and can be seriously inhibited. When that happens, the cells’ resistance to DNA damage is reduced, which in turn contributes to disease, and to aging itself.
Now researchers have discovered a protein complex that causes that inhibition. They’ve also shown a way to stop it.
As reported here, researchers from the University of Cologne discovered a protein complex called DREAM, and determined that it inhibits DNA repair in human, mouse and nematode cells, “thereby contributing to aging and disease.”
They were then able to suppress the DREAM complex with a pharmaceutical agent, “boosting the cells’ resilience to DNA damage, and suggesting potential new treatments for aging and cancer, although further research is needed.”
From the article: “‘When we suppress the so-called DREAM complex in body cells, various repair mechanisms kick in, making these cells extremely resilient towards all kinds of DNA damage,’ said Professor Dr. Björn Schumacher, Director of the Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease at the University of Cologne’s CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research.”
The article goes into a lot more detail about the underlying science: how and why the DNA repair mechanism works, how DREAM gets in the way, how Dr. Schumacher’s team were able to obstruct DREAM. I encourage you to read it!
The money quote, from Prof. Schumacher:
“Our findings for the first time allow us to improve DNA repair in body cells and to target the causes of aging and cancer development.”
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