Re:Strange DNA structures linked to cancer
by fabian2k on Saturday January 22, 2022 @07:23AM
(#30036060)
It's a summary of a particular paper, but it is not really written for a general audience. From a quick read I'd summarize it as follows:
We know that if a group of specific enzymes (TET) are disabled for some reason, you have increased cancer rates. We also know that in some cancers you observe unusual structures in the DNA called G-quadruplexes and R-loops, which are different from the usual double-helix. We also know that these unusual DNA structures destabilize the genome, leading to more mutation which in turn leads to more cancer.
What this paper showed that disabling these specific TET enzymes lead to an increase in these unusual DNA structures and to cancer. So it establishes the causal relationship between the lack of these enzymes and the unusual DNA structures.
What I find interesting is that the function of the TET enzymes we know, demethylation of DNA doesn't have anything direct to do with the formation of G-quadruplexes or R-loops.
We know that if a group of specific enzymes (TET) are disabled for some reason, you have increased cancer rates. We also know that in some cancers you observe unusual structures in the DNA called G-quadruplexes and R-loops, which are different from the usual double-helix. We also know that these unusual DNA structures destabilize the genome, leading to more mutation which in turn leads to more cancer.
What this paper showed that disabling these specific TET enzymes lead to an increase in these unusual DNA structures and to cancer. So it establishes the causal relationship between the lack of these enzymes and the unusual DNA structures.
What I find interesting is that the function of the TET enzymes we know, demethylation of DNA doesn't have anything direct to do with the formation of G-quadruplexes or R-loops.