It turns out that the protein can only bind to the DNA helix if the latter is relatively unwound.
HELIX SHAPE CODE
The discovery of the mechanisms involved of DNA binding by Polycomb is one of the first concrete examples in which the shape of DNA plays a more important role for the protein's functioning than the code contained in the DNA. MTF2 only recognises the binding spot on the DNA if the helix is in a relatively unwound state. Besides being exceedingly important for the proper development of embryos, Polycomb mutations also play a significant role in the development of various types of cancer later in life.Īnimation: The Polycomb protein binds to the DNA helix via the MTF2 protein to switch off specific genes. The Polycomb protein complex that was studied, consists of a group of proteins that are vital for cell division: by binding to DNA using the MTF2 protein, it switches off specific genes that determine the cell division rate. It could lead to understanding its functioning in general and of the way in which proteins can bind to DNA in certain places." "The concept that helix shape is also involved in how DNA functions, is an interesting new way of perceiving DNA. "We are currently able to read what is written in the human genome, but understanding the mechanisms is not an easy task," says Gert Jan Veenstra, Professor of Molecular Developmental Biology, one of the researchers involved in this study.
Besides the classical interpretation of the code (the 'sequence of letters') in DNA defining its function, it has been known for several years that the helix shape of DNA may also play a role.
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