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How a Key Enzyme Repairs Sun-Damaged DNA

Posted by kdawson on from the one-proton-and-one-electron dept.

BraveHeart writes "Researchers have long known that mammals, including humans, lack a key enzyme — one possessed by most of the animal kingdom and even plants — that reverses severe sun damage. For the first time, researchers have witnessed how this enzyme works at the atomic level to repair sun-damaged DNA. 'Normal sunscreen lotions convert UV light to heat, or reflect it away from our skin. A sunscreen containing photolyase could potentially heal some of the damage from UV rays that get through.'"

4 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Other DNA damage? by MachDelta · · Score: 4, Funny

    Er, I meant affect.

    Damnit. Now I have to go sit in the corner. :(

  2. Re:It is not that straightforward by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, if it was present with all plants and animals (except mammals) why did evolution lose such a "useful" enzyme?

    I've always imagined the evolutionary criteria as "The absolute minimum required to maximize chances of reproduction" and not "Everything that might be useful".

    Otherwise we'd have poisonous fangs, wings, the ability to digest cellulose and, possibly, firebreath not dependant on a mexican diet.

  3. Re:It is not that straightforward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Firebreath tends to be a bit of a turnoff.

    I, for one, ...

    *puts on shades* ...think it's hot.

  4. Re:Other DNA damage? by Shakrai · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is the first time I saw a self grammar Nazi.

    FTFY ;)

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