Researchers reveal unexpected versatility of an ancient DNA repair factor
Monday, December 2, 2019 - 11:10
in Biology & Nature
If a bone breaks or a tendon snaps, you know to seek treatment immediately. But your most fragile and precious cellular commodity, chromosomal DNA, breaks with astounding frequency—some estimate as many as 10,000 times a day per cell—usually without consequence. That's because legions of DNA repair proteins prevent genomic catastrophe by repairing DNA damaged by chemical or physical mutagens or just normal cellular wear and tear. Proteins dedicated to these tasks are common to all species. In fact, life as we (or bacteria) know it cannot exist without proteins dedicated to DNA repair.