Researchers visualize DNA-cutting enzymes finding vulnerable spots in real time
A team at Kanazawa University used high-speed atomic force microscopy to watch enzymes break down DNA molecules.
Enzymes target specific DNA regions
Scientists directly observed individual enzyme molecules moving along long strands of genetic material. The researchers found that these proteins repeatedly returned to exposed ends and bends before breaking the DNA apart. This behavior shows how the physical structure of the molecule influences its vulnerability to breakdown.
Study published in Nature Communications
The work was led by Richard Wong and his colleagues at the Nano Life Science Institute. Their findings explain how nucleases maintain cells and clear unwanted genetic material from damaged areas. Problems with this clearance process have been linked to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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