Researchers Discover Protein That Regulates the Activation and Deactivation of Genes Related to Brain Development
MOLECULAR & COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
10/31/2024
DNA is not just a string of genes but a complex, dynamic structure where the nucleus plays a crucial role in regulating which genes should be active or inactive. In line with this, researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have discovered a protein called ZNF274 that plays an important role in keeping certain gene clusters inactive by anchoring them to the cell nucleus. In a study published in Science Advances in September 2024, the researchers demonstrated that ZNF274 acts as a gatekeeper to regulate the expression of genes involved in brain and nervous system development. ZNF274 ensures that several gene clusters remain inactive and only become active when needed by "anchoring" these genes in regions of the nucleus known as nucleolus-associated domains (NADs). Furthermore, the removal of ZNF274 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology led to disruptions in neural development and disorders resembling schizophrenia. These findings open new avenues for understanding gene regulation and its contribution to various diseases.
