Logo

DNA — Now in 3D!

Aug 26, 2010

Researchers have been looking for a way to find out how proteins bind to DNA packets, but so far have only been able to speculate, writes Katherine Harmon in Scientific American's Observations blog. But now, researchers at Penn State use x-ray crystallography to visualize the protein binding for the first time in 3D. The group used the RCC1 enzyme, which helps separate chromosomes when a cell divides, to bind to fruit fly DNA, Harmon says, and their results (which were published in Nature) showed that RCC1 binds to opposite sides of the nucleosome. The researchers say this puts us a step closer to knowing how cells read DNA and regulate genes.

Breaking News
The Scan

Study Finds Few FDA Post-Market Regulatory Actions Backed by Research, Public Assessments

A Yale University-led team examines in The BMJ safety signals from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and whether they led to regulatory action.

Duke University Team Develops Programmable RNA Tool for Cell Editing

Researchers have developed an RNA-based editing tool that can target specific cells, as they describe in Nature.

Novel Gene Editing Approach for Treating Cystic Fibrosis

Researchers in Science Advances report on their development of a non-nuclease-based gene editing approach they hope to apply to treat cystic fibrosis.

Study Tracks Responses in Patients Pursuing Polygenic Risk Score Profiling

Using interviews, researchers in the European Journal of Human Genetics qualitatively assess individuals' motivations for, and experiences with, direct-to-consumer polygenic risk score testing.