Key Points
- Scientists identified a protein, ANKLE1, that acts like “smart scissors” for DNA.
- ANKLE1 can detect physical tension and cut DNA only when it is stretched or twisted.
- This protects cells from harmful genetic damage during cell division, which can lead to cancer.
- The discovery was made using advanced tools like magnetic tweezers to manipulate single DNA molecules.
An international research team has discovered a human protein that acts like a set of “smart scissors” for our DNA. The protein, called ANKLE1, can detect when DNA is under physical tension and safely cleaves it to prevent potentially harmful damage. This discovery sheds new light on how our cells protect our genetic code, a process that, when it fails, can lead to cancer and other diseases.
Every time a cell divides, it must copy and separate its DNA accurately. Sometimes, strands of DNA get tangled, creating what scientists call “chromatin bridges” that stretch between the two new cells.
Professor Gary Ying Wai Chan, a lead author of the study, likens these bridges to “tightropes under tension.” If these tightropes snap unpredictably, it can cause massive genetic errors and instability. Until now, no one knew how cells safely resolved this dangerous situation.
The new research reveals that ANKLE1 is the cell’s specialized tool for this job. Using advanced experiments in which they stretched individual DNA molecules with tiny magnetic tweezers, the team observed the protein in action.
They discovered that ANKLE1 only becomes active and cuts DNA when it senses physical tension or twisting—exactly the conditions found in a chromatin bridge. “It only cuts DNA when it is really needed,” said Dr. Artem Efremov, a co-senior author. This precision prevents random, catastrophic breaks.
This breakthrough has significant implications for cancer research. Since many cancer cells already have unstable genomes, scientists believe that blocking ANKLE1 could push them over the edge. This could make tumors more vulnerable to existing cancer therapies. As a result, ANKLE1 may be a promising target for developing drugs that exploit cancer cells’ vulnerabilities.
Source: Nature Communications
