DNA Repair through Transfers

'DNA binding and nucleotide flipping by the human DNA repair protein AGT' is an article that appeared in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology over two years ago. However, the information in it is still relevant. The article discussed enzymes that play a role in repairing damaged DNA. Specifically mentioned were O 6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), and O 6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Alkylation damage is a well known phenomenon whose corrective action involves enzymes that transfer an alkyl group from a nucleotide to an enzymatic polypeptide chain. Methyl groups are likewise transferred by other enzymes found in multiple species. This particular article pointed out that DNA helix-turn-helix (HTH) motifs facilitated the binding of proteins.

DNA repair involves a multi-faceted complex of mechanisms and this article provides a glimpse into part of the story. DNA repair- your cells would be caught dead without it.