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Cambridge University Scientists Find Quadruple Helix DNA In Human Cells
SternisheFan notes that scientists at Cambridge University have found four-stranded DNA in human cells for the first time. "If you've ever studied genetics in school or college, you'll know that the structure of DNA is a double helix. You likely know that DNA carries all of our genetic code. While traditionally we think of only double helix DNA, scientists from Cambridge University in England have made an interesting discovery. According to the researchers, a quadruple helix is also present in some cells and is believed to relate to cancer in some ways. According to the researchers, controlling these quadruple helix structures could provide new ways to fight cancer. The scientists believe the quadruple helix may form when the cell has a certain genotype or operates in a certain dysfunctional state. Scientists have been able to produce quadruple helix material in test tubes for years. The material produced is called the G-quadruplex. The G refers to guanine, which is one of the base pairs that hold DNA together. The new research performed at the University is believed to be the first to firmly pinpoint quadruple helix in human cells."
But... it's aliens.
an scientists will find a fix and then get caned
for testing it out.
So, uhm... Does this scientist live in Singapore?
The Fifth Element!!!
Hmm, the humour and sarcasm seem to have been be lost on you.
...that "Guanine Quadruplex" works equally well as the name for either a band or a signature wrestling move.
All of this biologist type speak doesn't help regular people to understand how it can help cure cancer. It does seem like it could be targeted but what the hell is it and where does it come from? is it important? Or does it only cause cancer?
It reminds me of The Fifth Element... Leeloo's alien DNA was very much complex...
The first annual Obfuscated DNA Contest
...differently homeworlded.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
"Scientists studying the quad-helix have already determined it is heavily implicated in the alcoholism gene."
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
The action now is in 5.1 and 7.1 helix.
Not to mention TH(eli)X...
It occurs most often in rapidly dividing cells; which whilst not limited to includes cancer cells.
That's as far as the link goes as far as I can read.
Right now, it appears to only be in the "suspicious correlation" stage. The next stage is the "procure more funding," followed by the "multiple inconclusive results" and "procure even more funding" cycle. After 3 to 5^^7 iterations of the cycle, there will be a final report that might answer your questions.
The summary mentions cancer because that's what gets the funding. To a less cynical degree, cancer is when cells behave dangerously out of normal functionality, and quad-helix DNA seems to be out of normal functionality, so they might be linked.
Wikipedia seems to indicate that these structures can form because of telomeres. Telomeres are sections of DNA on the end that repeat the same code d(GGTTAG). They prevent damage to DNA sections that hold genes. So they are important for preventing cancer. Basically the telemeres at each end can bond with each other to form these quadruplex.
triple DNA helixes are also known, just to expand your horizon beyond what is simplified in highschool textbooks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple-stranded_DNA
It's been exactly 60 years since DNA was discovered? wow
Maybe the person was conceived in a TARDIS and has timelord dna. Clearly we should shoot them and see if they regenerate.
Wait wait wait wait--- you're telling me those New Age kooks who said we were going to add another strand in our DNA after 2012 were actually right!?!?!
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
They found it in dividing cells. Cancer cells divide, which is the problem, as that causes tumors. I'm assuming they used multiple cell lines, some cancerous and some not, and found it present more in cancer cells than in normal cells.
It says they're also found in S phase cells, when the DNA is being replicated. This might contribute to cancer through genomic instability. There is a LOT of DNA to copy each cell cycle. The DNA polymerase is an impressive bit of evolved machinery, if each DNA base pair were the size of a railroad tie, the polymerase would be zipping along at a thousand miles an hour, copying the railroad tracks nearly perfectly as it does. It's also pretty good at catching its own mistakes. However, changes in the structure of DNA can cause a much higher frequency of errors in copying, and consequently, can increase the rates of mutation. It might skip copying a gene important for preventing the cell from dividing.
Perhaps most importantly though, these structures being present more in cancer cells than in normal cells means they might be good targets for identifying cells that are cancerous. Perhaps we can find a drug that directly or indirectly destroys those structures when they are present in such a way that the cell itself will be killed. That would be far more targeted than current chemotherapy, which attacks all dividing cells.
Big if of course. At this point, as far as published stuff goes, it's not yet to the point where it is going to lead to something useful in hospitals in the definite future.
What I got out of the article is that scientists found these structures and were able to image them but don't clearly understand what they do. It sounds like we'll have to mint a raft of Ph.Ds studying this until we understand what it does.
I'd not saying its cool, it really is. But it'll probably be 5 years of study before we understand what/why/how these structures work and relate to cell (mis)function.
Science onward!!!
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
Get Patrick Stewart's wheelchair oiled up...
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
Some portions of DNA are rich in Guanine residues. There's been a theory kicking around that these bits could form into tetromeres, which would make the two DNA strands extra sticky to each other. A number of really wierd phenotypes, including werner's syndrome which causes premature aging, can come from the inaccurate unfolding of G rich regions. Likewise the telomeres, ie the ends of the DNA which essentially work as a division counter are G-rich. As such, if the accurate unfolding, stability or stickyness of the DNA in these regions is affected, the cellular behavior will change.
The article went through using a phage library to build an antibody specific for 4 stranded DNA (NOT easy), which did not respond to 2-stranded DNA or RNA structures. They then looked at whether, when and where tetromeres could be seen in a bone cancer cell line. Oddly enough, the regions most likely to show these structures, the telomeres, didn't show tetromeres. These structures were seen when the cell was about to get ready to divide, which makes some sense, since the cell will have more DNA. (There's a fair bit of research currently going on to study DNA supercoiling- DNA is compacted down very tightly, yet almost all of it is accessible at any given time)
As far as curing cancer, any time you can isolate behavior of cancer-only cells, you have the ability to create a drug to target that function. If these tetromeres are seen only in cancerous cells, then you can design drugs against them. Beyond that, the folding and unfolding of DNA is a pretty hot topic, since volumetric compression, read speeds and accuracy are astonishing compared to even the best hard drives on the market
Can you code? We need logic like yours in the new NRA IT initiative! Your knowledge of history, combined with your keen insight will have new recruits lining up to sign on!
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
Too late. Jöns Jakob Berzelius identified the fifth element in 1824.
welcome our new Prothean overlords.
Leloo dallas multipass.
And neither would you
"Taltos" by Anne Rice, wasn't it?
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
(DNA = Douglas Noel Adams)
Haggunenons have the most impatient chromosomes in the Galaxy. Whereas most species are content to evolve slowly and carefully over thousands of generations, discarding a prehensile toe here, [...] hazarding another nostril there, the Haggunenons would have done for Charles Darwin what a squadron of Arcturan Stunt Apples would have done for Sir Isaac Newton. Their genetic structure is based on the quadruple sterated octohelix....
Stop worrying about the risks of nuclear power and start worrying about the risks of not using nuclear power.
He lives in Washington, DC, but he represents the state of Massachusetts. Also, he hates the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
I was going to comment on your work but I just can't be arsed.
If they are British scientists, then getting 'caned' is slang for getting high on weed.
Liberty.
8472
...and it's correspondingly not called a "quadruple helix". Yes, I realise that some ignorant reporter wrote that and now already we see the ignorant masses jumping onto this, but please don't keep propagating this rubbish. It is referred to as a "quadruplex", suggesting the quadrangular complex that it is.
Oh, cool! Let's respond to some satire about overgeneralization and stereotypes with more overgeneralization and stereotypes! The sadder part is that you probably take your mindset seriously, while the parent doesn't.
If there was a god, you would be black and still feel the same way you do.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Wow. Never thought I'd get to witness the elusive "triple whoosh", but there it is.
I say: if you're going to extend a meme, give it a decent shot.
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
Holy almost 20 year old reference, Batman!(*)
Heck, are most readers of slashdot even old enough to remember this? Even if they were born, were they old enough to follow the news at that time?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
(*) I realize THAT is a close to 50 year old reference!
cancer is when cells behave dangerously out of normal functionality
And fail to trigger apoptosis in time.
No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
A double double helix, all the way!! Wow, oh wow! Whoa! WHAT DOES IT MEAN!? T_T
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel