The researchers believe that they have succeeded in finding all the roles played by the ELG1 gene. The gene in question is also evolutionarily conserved in humans and mutations in it cause cancer, understanding its meaning in yeast can help fight the disease.
A new study by Tel Aviv University has shed light on a gene related to the mechanism of DNA duplication during cell division in baking yeast. The researchers believe that they have succeeded in finding all the roles played by the ELG1 gene. The gene in question is also evolutionarily conserved in humans and mutations in it cause cancer, understanding its meaning in yeast can help fight the disease.
The research was conducted under the leadership of master's student Ziv Itzkovich, in the laboratory of Prof. Martin Kopeik from the Shemunis School of Biomedical Research and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences. The study was published in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences".
Prof. Kopik explains: "ELG1 plays an important role in DNA replication during cell division and protects the genome from errors and damage. Like many other genes related to DNA replication and repair, it is evolutionarily conserved from simple creatures like yeast to humans. In humans, mutations in ELG1 cause cancer, so there is great interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms in which the gene is involved. Previously, the laboratory found that the function of the protein encoded by this gene is to remove a ring called PCNA from the DNA. This ring plays a central role in controlling the various processes that occur during DNA replication.
In the study, we introduced mutations in the protein encoded by the gene, and tested their effect on the cells' ability to deal with DNA damage and prevent the formation of mutations. We discovered that a lack of function of ELG1 leads to the unnecessary delay of the ring on the DNA, which causes a lack of its activity."
Prof. Kopeik concludes: "The study of the ELG1 gene, which sits at a central junction of events of genomic instability and the development of cancerous tumors, will make it possible to expand the scientific understanding of the development of cancerous processes. This understanding will allow us in the future to improve the ability to predict, detect and treat cancerous tumors."
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