Important DNA Repair Mechanism Linked To Premature Aging Yields

Important DNA Repair Mechanism Linked To Premature Aging Yields: "The protein CSB, which in a mutated form causes one kind of Cockayne Syndrome, was known to recognize stalled RNAPII; CSB was presumed to be involved in initiating transcription-coupled repair, but by what means was unknown. In addition, there were hints for an important but unknown role for the protein XPG in transcription-coupled repair. In both humans and mice, when gene mutations produce a severely truncated form of XPG, the result is profound Cockayne Syndrome and very early death.
Through an ingenious series of biochemical experiments, Cooper and her colleagues discovered evidence that XPG and CSB must work together in recognizing stalled RNAPII. The researchers learned that these proteins spot stalled RNAPII whether or not there is damage to DNA � suggesting that a hitch in the transcription process, not necessarily involving damage to the DNA itself, is the cause of subsequent problems."