DNA with a similar structure can recognize each other without the help of proteins and other biochemical compounds. To such conclusions come the authors of a study published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. According to scientists, the mechanism discovered by them provides homologous DNA recombination, which plays an important role in the evolution of biological species.

A universal carrier of hereditary information, a DNA molecule, includes two chains of purine and pyrimidine bases encoding the sequence of amino acids in proteins. The non-sexual cells of most living organisms have a double set of DNA consisting of paired molecules with a similar (homologous) structure.

Employees of the Imperial College of London, led by Russian scientist Professor Alexei Kornyshev studied the behavior of DNA molecules in a solution purified from other organic compounds. As it turned out, DNA chains converged and interacted with each other, and these interactions were twice as often observed between homologous molecules. It was previously believed that selective interactions between homologous DNA molecules are possible only with the participation of proteins and other chemical compounds.

The mechanism of a "telepathic" connection between DNA is not yet explained, but scientists suggest that these large molecules can "recognize" each other in the distribution of electrical charges. In this case, the probability of such recognition increases as the length of DNA chains increases.

According to the researchers, the interaction mechanism described by them is used for homologous recombination-the exchange of genes between similar DNA molecules. This process provides a variety of genetic combinations within the species, it is also important for maintaining the normal structure of DNA in case of accidental damage. The idea of ??a basic mechanism of homologous recombination will allow scientists to better understand the natural mechanisms of protection from mutations and to improve the methods of genetic engineering and gene therapy.

Medicinform. Net.

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