Photolyase

Dongping Zhong and his colleagues from Ohio State University describe how they were able to observe the enzyme, called photolyase, inject a single electron and proton into an injured strand of DNA. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The marsupials have an enzyme not found in humans called photolyase and researchers Linda Feketeova and Uta Wille say understanding how the enzyme repairs damaged DNA could one day lead to a '' dream cream '' that could be applied as a preventive measure after sun exposure.

But adding an extra molecule to an enzyme such as photolyase could change how it moves. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The study has revealed that photolyase breaks up those errant bonds in just the right spots to cause the atoms in the DNA to move back into their original positions. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Ohio State physicist and chemist Dongping Zhong and his colleagues describe how they used ultra-fast pulses of laser light to spy on a photolyase while it was healing a strand of ❋ Unknown (2010)

Zhong and colleagues synthesized DNA in the lab and exposed it to ultraviolet light, producing damage similar to that of sunburn, then added photolyase enzymes. ❋ Unknown (2010)

They mapped the shape and position of the photolyase molecule as it broke up the harmful chemical bonds in ❋ Unknown (2010)

The bonds are then arranged in such a way that the electron and proton are automatically ejected out of the DNA helix and back into the photolyase, presumably so it could start the cycle over again and go on to heal other sites. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Now that researchers know the mechanism by which photolyase works, they might use that information to design drugs or lotions that heal sun damage, Zhong said. ❋ Unknown (2010)