Researchers have found that how DNA is organized in cells can significantly affect the speed at which DNA is duplicated during cell division. They revealed that the way DNA is packed sends signals through a unique pathway, which in turn influences the cell’s growth and division capabilities. This discovery creates new opportunities to explore the connection between DNA duplication and its packaging. These insights could assist scientists in discovering treatments and drugs for conditions like cancer down the road.
Researchers from the Mattiroli group have found that the way DNA is packaged in cells can directly impact how fast DNA itself is copied during cell division. They discovered that DNA packaging sends signals through an unusual pathway, affecting the cell’s ability to divide and grow. This opens up new doors to study how the copying of the DNA and its packaging are linked. These findings, published in Molecular Cell, may help scientists to find therapies and medicines for diseases such as cancer in the future.
Chromatin as a guide
Every day, our cells undergo division. Each time they must replicate both their DNA and the structures, known as chromatin, that organize this DNA. This chromatin serves as a guide, instructing the cell on how, where, and when to use the DNA information. Accurate replication of both DNA and chromatin is crucial for producing young and healthy cells. Issues with this process are frequently associated with diseases like cancer. “Even though this process keeps us healthy, we still don’t fully understand how DNA and chromatin are simultaneously copied,” states Francesca Mattiroli, the group leader.
A unique slowdown alarm
“We found that chromatin copying directly impacts the mechanisms used to replicate DNA,” explains Mattiroli. She and her team discovered that this effect is due to an unusual stress response. “When there’s an issue with DNA packaging, the cell quickly detects this problem. However, instead of activating a standard stress response, the cell reacts by slowing down its growth and division cycle, yet it doesn’t halt it completely,” she notes. This slower cycle allows the cell to divide; however, the new cells often find it difficult to grow further, impeding their ability to divide again.
“Thus, the mechanisms that replicate DNA and its packaging are closely linked to cell growth,” says Mattiroli. This finding opens avenues for new research into these pathways and how DNA packaging regulates cell growth. In the future, this knowledge could lead to new therapies for diseases like cancer.
A true team effort
“This project has been quite an adventure for our biochemical lab,” says Mattiroli. “Without collaboration with Alexander van Oudenaarden’s lab and our other partners, this work would not have been feasible. The technology developed by Jeroen van den Berg and Vincent van Batenburg was instrumental in addressing the questions we aimed to explore.” The research was genuinely a collective effort, with significant input from co-first authors Jan Dreyer, Giulia Ricci, Jeroen van den Berg as well as Vivek Bhardwaj and Janina Funk. “I cherished the opportunity to learn so much, thanks to the collaborative ethos at the Hubrecht Institute. I am excited about continuing cell-based research in the future,” adds Mattiroli.