Researchers have mapped 50,000 mysterious DNA 'knots' in the human genome
MOLECULAR & COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
9/6/2024
Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have successfully mapped over 50,000 unique DNA structures known as i-motifs in the human genome, which are believed to play a crucial role in genomic regulation. In their study published in EMBO Journal in August 2024, the researchers utilized high-affinity i-motif immunoprecipitation and sequencing techniques to map i-motifs from the genomic DNA of human MCF7, U2OS, and HEK293T cells. The study also demonstrated that DNA sequences capable of forming i-motifs are widely distributed throughout the human genome and are more commonly found in genes that are upregulated during the G0/G1 cell cycle phases. These findings provide experimental evidence for the widespread presence of i-motifs in the human genome and serve as a foundation for further studies on their genomic, structural, and molecular roles in gene regulation and disease. Understanding i-motifs also opens new possibilities for diagnosis and therapy, potentially expanding current treatment options.
