Research scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Pagano Lab, Qingyue Zhang, Marc Kerzhnerman, and Gergely Rona, have developed an advanced method to visualize single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) damage in cells, providing valuable insight into DNA repair mechanisms that are crucial for sustaining life and preventing diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.
DNA, the foundation of life, constantly faces damage from various sources, both from within the body and from external environmental factors. Repairing this damage is essential for maintaining the integrity of genes. Cells employ several sophisticated DNA repair mechanisms to fix different types of damage, ensuring that any errors do not lead to cell death, aging, or diseases.
Traditional methods to observe DNA damage relied on a technique called immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy, which involves tagging damaged DNA with specific antibodies. However, this method has limitations, including the requirement for pre-treatment of cells, making it unsuitable for studying neurons. These drawbacks hinder comprehensive research into DNA repair, especially in cells that are not actively replicating, which is significant for understanding many diseases.
The new method introduced by researchers overcomes these limitations by utilizing a protein called Replication Protein A2 (RPA2). RPA2 naturally binds to single-stranded DNA, protecting it from further damage and making it an excellent marker for visualizing DNA damage across different phases of the cell cycle, including the challenging-to-study G1 phase.
“This breakthrough allows us to see ssDNA damage more clearly and across a broader range of cell types than ever before,” said Qingyue Zhang, the lead scientist on the project. “By using RPA2, we can study DNA repair mechanisms in greater detail, which could lead to new therapeutic targets for treating cancer, aging, and neurological disorders.”
The new technique is not only more efficient but also less invasive, providing a clearer and more accurate picture of how cells repair DNA damage. This advancement holds the potential to accelerate research in understanding how DNA repair pathways work in various conditions and could lead to significant improvements in treatments for diseases related to DNA damage.
The findings from this research have the potential to transform the field of molecular biology and open new avenues for developing therapies that target DNA repair mechanisms, offering hope for better management and treatment of various diseases.
About NYU Langone Medical Center: NYU Langone Medical Center is a premier academic medical center known for its innovative research and comprehensive clinical care. The Pagano Lab is dedicated to advancing understanding of cellular processes and developing new treatments for a variety of diseases.
