Title: “Brain Proteins Offer Hope for Fighting Diseases: A Teen-Friendly Breakthrough”
In a major scientific breakthrough, a team of researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has uncovered how brain proteins can help tackle complications caused by DNA replication stress. This groundbreaking discovery holds immense potential for improving treatments for various diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and age-related conditions linked to DNA replication problems.
Led by Professors Jayil Lee, Jang Hyun Choi, and Hongtae Kim, this collaborative effort has provided crucial insights into the complex processes involving NSMF proteins when they encounter DNA replication stress, a fundamental aspect of how our cells work.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor synaptonuclear signaling and neuronal migration factor (NSMF) might sound complicated, but it’s a neuronal protein associated with conditions like Kallmann syndrome. This protein plays an essential role in neuronal development, regulating movement, controlling reproductive hormone secretion, and even our sense of smell. When NSMF doesn’t function correctly, it can lead to rare conditions like Kallmann syndrome, which affects reproductive function and the sense of smell.
In their study on how NSMF proteins can help with DNA replication stress, the research team discovered that when DNA replication encounters obstacles—caused by factors stressing the DNA structure and resulting in single-stranded regions—a protein called replication protein A (RPA) steps in. RPA binds to these exposed single strands in a unique way. Then, multiple RPA molecules undergo phosphorylation, a chemical process involving the attachment of phosphate groups. This phosphorylated RPA brings in other proteins to help ease replication stress at specific spots along the DNA strand, getting things back to normal.
Here’s the cool part: RPA can bind either weakly or strongly to these single-stranded regions while interacting with DNA. Through their research on NSMF proteins, the team found that NSMF helps push out some of the weakly bound RPAs and encourages the remaining RPAs to shift into more stable binding modes. This change helps speed up the phosphorylation process, which is essential for repairing DNA damage. In simple terms, NSMF helps relieve replication stress faster.
“This study could make a big difference in how we treat diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, and age-related conditions by uncovering the molecular processes related to DNA replication,” said Professor Lee.
“Since NSMF is closely linked to Kallmann syndrome, we hope this research will contribute to finding better treatments for this disease,” added Yujin Kang, the first author of the study.
The study’s findings were published ahead of their official release in Nucleic Acids Research on June 28, 2023. This groundbreaking research received support from prestigious organizations like the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, National Research Foundation, and Institute for Basic Science.
