Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Science»Recently discovered protein turbocharges gene expression: An ancient protein found
    Science

    Recently discovered protein turbocharges gene expression: An ancient protein found

    By AdminApril 16, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    For many years, scientists have sought to understand what happens when our genes are flipped to the “on” position. Now, scientists at the University of California San Diego and Rutgers University have identified a new protein that contributes to this important process.

    Inside each of our cells, genes serve as the master copies of information in the six-foot-long molecular chain of instructions known as DNA. In the activation of our genes, an enzyme known as RNA polymerase synthesizes an RNA copy of the DNA in our genes. RNA polymerases in animals were discovered over 50 years ago, and most of the proteins that regulate RNA polymerase activity were identified more than 20 years ago. This led to the belief that all of the key factors that affect gene activation were already known.

    This idea has now been revised in recent work by former UC San Diego postdoctoral researcher Jia Fei (now an assistant professor at Rutgers University) and James T. Kadonaga at UC San Diego. In 2018 Fei and Kadonaga discovered a protein called NDF (nucleosome destabilizing factor), which they found played a significant role in gene activation by unraveling nucleosomes, which are modules of DNA inside cells.

    In their new studies, Fei, Kadonaga and colleagues made the surprising discovery that NDF not only unravels nucleosomes, but also turbocharges RNA polymerase as it travels along the DNA. Looking further into this unexpected observation, Fei and Kadonaga found that NDF binds directly to RNA polymerase and stimulates the enzyme’s ability to synthesize RNA. Furthermore, they found that NDF exists in a vast range of organisms spanning from simple baker’s yeast to humans. This work thus reveals that NDF is an ancient and widespread protein that enhances RNA polymerase elongation, a pivotal step in gene expression.

    The new findings are described March 10 in the journal Genes & Development.

    “In humans, NDF is present in all tissues, which suggests that it has a broad and important role in our biology,” said Kadonaga, a distinguished professor of molecular biology and the Amylin Endowed Chair in Lifesciences Education and Research. “Consistent with this notion, abnormally high NDF levels, which might lead to the hyperactivation of genes, are often found in breast cancer cells.” Kadonaga also noted that it’s remarkable that a single protein is able to destabilize nucleosomes as well as stimulate RNA polymerase elongation. These findings indicate that it will be important to learn much more about this new gene activating protein.

    The Genes & Development paper’s full author list includes Jia Fei, Jun Xu, Ziwei Li, Kevin Xu, Dong Wang, George Kassavetis and James Kadonaga.

    Story Source:

    Materials provided by University of California – San Diego. Original written by Mario Aguilera. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Science news this week: Wolves help restore trees in Yellowstone and the largest interstellar object ever seen

    July 26, 2025

    Major carbon sink may have vanished for a second year in a row

    July 25, 2025

    Clues for dinosaurs’ diets found in the chemistry of their fossil teeth

    July 25, 2025

    3I/ATLAS is 7 miles wide — the largest interstellar object ever seen — new photos from Vera C. Rubin Observatory reveal

    July 24, 2025

    Walking 7000 steps a day seems to be enough to keep us healthy

    July 24, 2025

    Intestinal damage results from hidden cryptosporidium cell invasion, study shows

    July 23, 2025
    popular posts

    Elon Musk Takes Twitter Ownership, Said to Have Fired Top

    The universe’s evolution seems to be slowing and we don’t

    Singapore, UAE Keen to Accept RuPay Payments, Finance Minister Says

    Why the Search for Life in Space Starts With Ancient

    The Best New Rock + Metal Songs of the Week

    The slippery stardom of Rachel McAdams

    50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: September 2023

    Categories
    • Books (3,310)
    • Cover Story (5)
    • Events (19)
    • Fashion (2,465)
    • Interviews (43)
    • Movies (2,609)
    • Music (2,888)
    • News (155)
    • Politics (3)
    • Science (4,459)
    • Technology (2,603)
    • Television (3,332)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT