Scientists Use X-Ray Vision to Probe Early Stages of DNA 'Photocopying'
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 13:40
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have created a 3-D model of a complex protein machine, ORC, which helps prepare DNA to be duplicated. Like an image of a criminal suspect, the intricate model of ORC has helped build a "profile" of the activities of this crucial "protein of interest." But the new information has uncovered another mystery: ORC's structure reveals that it is not always "on" as was previously thought, and no one knows how it turns on and off.