Human DNA Polymerase ι Bypasses Cancer-Causing DNA Damage Through Alternative Base Pairing
Scientists have uncovered how human DNA polymerase ι successfully replicates past a carcinogenic DNA lesion that typically blocks other repair mechanisms. The enzyme employs an alternative base pairing method to bypass damage caused by environmental toxins and cellular stress, according to new structural biology findings.
Novel DNA Repair Mechanism Uncovered
Researchers have identified how specialized enzymes in human cells can replicate past carcinogenic DNA damage that would normally block replication, according to reports published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. The study reveals that human DNA polymerase ι (Polι) employs an alternative base pairing strategy to bypass the 1,N6-ethenodeoxyadenosine (adduct) lesion, a known cancer-causing DNA modification.