Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, May 4: A groundbreaking study has shed light on how certain genetic elements, known as "jumping genes," can invade the nucleus of human cells to replicate. These elements, scientifically termed transposable elements, are simpler than viruses and have the ability to use the host's genetic machinery to make copies of themselves.

Published in Science Advances, the study highlights the behavior of one such element—long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1)—which is the only transposable element still capable of self-replication in the human genome. These elements, while largely silenced by the body’s defense mechanisms, continue to move within our DNA, much like viruses that leave behind traces of their presence.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health and the Munich Gene Center at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, led by Associate Professor Liam J Holt, discovered that LINE-1 can enter the cell’s nucleus during brief moments when the nucleus breaks open as cells divide. This allows LINE-1 to bind to cellular DNA and copy itself.

The team found that during cell division, LINE-1 RNA clusters with a protein it encodes, ORF1p, to latch onto DNA until the nucleus reforms. These findings provide crucial insight into the mechanisms behind LINE-1 replication, which could pave the way for developing therapies to prevent its replication in the future.

Dr. Holt expressed hopes that the research could lead to a better understanding of other cellular processes. “Moving forward, we will be looking to see if other condensates undergo functional changes as the ratios between their components change,” he said.