How cells find the exact spot to repair: Ottawa scientists unravel a DNA-repair handshake

When DNA breaks, repair crews must arrive at precisely the right place. Researchers at the University of Ottawa have shown how a protein called TONSL grips a specific histone — a spool protein DNA wraps around — and that this handshake is required for repair to proceed. Published in Science Advances, the finding explains how mutations in TONSL can contribute to a rare skeletal condition, and more broadly how cells protect the integrity of their genetic blueprint. The team now plans to map the other proteins in the repair pathway, piece by piece.

SDG 9 · Industry, innovation and infrastructure — Mechanism: tech innovation