A “Silver Bullet” for Cancer? Scientists Uncover Secret Power of RNA
7th October 2024
Within each cell, inside every nucleus, your survival relies on an intricate and highly complex process. Proteins are continuously wrapping and unwrapping DNA, and even the smallest error in this delicate dance can result in cancer.
A new study from the University of Chicago reveals a previously unknown part of this dance—one with significant implications for human health.
In the study, published Oct. 2 in Nature, a team of scientists led by UChicago Prof. Chuan He, in collaboration with University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Prof. Mingjiang Xu, found that RNA plays a significant role in how DNA is packaged and stored in your cells, via a gene known as TET2. This pathway also appears to explain a long-standing puzzle about why so many cancers and other disorders involve TET2-related mutations—and suggests a set of new targets for treatments.