Scientists have discovered a remarkable new DNA repair protein complex with the remarkable ability to reconfigure itself depending on the DNA damage it encounters. Dubbed the “shapeshifter” complex, this protein complex can rapidly modify itself to fix a wide variety of DNA damage that can otherwise lead to genetic mutations and diseases. The findings, published in the journal Nature, represent a major advancement in understanding how our bodies protect us from the dangerous effects of DNA damage.

The new “shapeshifter” complex is composed of 13 proteins, and it’s able to reconfigure itself in response to the type of DNA damage it encounters. This remarkable ability to modify itself allows it to repair a wide variety of DNA damage, including single-strand breaks, double-strand breaks, and cross-links. This remarkable protein complex helps to protect our DNA from the dangerous effects of genetic mutations and diseases.

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source: Phys.org