Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have mapped over 50,000 mysterious “knots” called i-motifs in the human genome. These unique structures could play a key role in gene regulation and disease diagnosis.
DNA is well-known for its double helix shape, but it also contains unusual knot-like structures called i-motifs. The study published in The EMBO Journal reveals that these structures are widespread across the entire genome, occurring in all three cell types examined.
I-motifs differ from the iconic double helix shape and form when stretches of cytosine letters on the same DNA strand pair with each other. The researchers found that i-motifs are concentrated in key functional areas of the genome, including regions that control gene activity.
The study suggests that i-motifs play a dynamic role in regulating gene activity and may be associated with genes that are highly active during specific times in the cell cycle. Additionally, they found that i-motifs form near oncogenes involved in hard-to-treat cancers, opening up new possibilities for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
The findings could lead to the development of new drugs that target i-motifs to influence gene expression, expanding current treatment options. The study’s authors hope that their research will shed light on the potential roles of i-motifs in disease and open up new avenues for treatment and diagnosis.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-08-dna-mysterious-human-genome.html