First ever footage of DNA repair (BT)

Factors such as sunlight, radiation, toxins, infection or ageing can cause damage to DNA. Continuous repair work is carried out in our hereditary material to repair this damage.
Breaks in DNA are repaired by the enzyme DNA ligase. Two other ingredients are vital to this process: ATP and magnesium. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the universal energy donor in the cell that supplies the energy needed for DNA repair, and magnesium accelerates the reaction.

Enzyme catalysis in real time
Dr Alexey V. Cherepanov, who works via a NWO VENI grant in Prof. Huub J. M. de Groot’s solid-state NMR group at Leiden University and under TU Delft enzymologist Prof. Simon de Vries in the Enzymology group, is studying DNA repair via enzyme DNA ligase. The entire repair process occurs at room temperature in a fraction of a second. In order to be able to observe the early stages, the reaction was initiated and observed at a low temperature with the aid of phosphorous solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The resulting chemical film shows in real time which chemical bonds are broken and formed. The researchers have proved that it is possible to make a 3D molecular film of enzyme catalysis.
Future
Molecular films will enable scientists to unravel the workings of DNA ligase and other enzymes. They can also be used to discover more about diseases connected with DNA damage and to design new (bio) catalysts for industrial use.

For more information
Dr. Alexey Cherepanov, tel. +31 (71) 5274653/4539, e-mail a.cherepanov@remove-this.chem.leidenuniv.nl
Prof. Simon de Vries, tel. +31 (15) 2785139, e-mail S.deVries@remove-this.tudelft.nl
Prof. Huub J. M. de Groot , tel. +31 (71) 5274653/4539, e-mail groot_h@remove-this.lic.leidenuniv.nl
Universitaire Nieuwsbrief Universiteit Leiden