Process By Which Cells 'Hide' Potentially Dangerous DNA Segments Explained
Friday, April 10, 2009 - 23:07
in Biology & Nature
Heterochromatin is the super-condensed portion of the cell's genetic material that hides unneeded genes and potentially dangerous DNA sequences such as transposons from the cell's DNA-activating machinery. Scientists have now identified a critical requirement for heterochromatin assembly. They show that it depends on the strength with which a protein called Chp1 binds to a specific site on a histone protein that is attached to the DNA double helix.