05 July 2018

British researchers have revealed how a leukaemia causing virus interacts with human DNA.

Researchers say that the human leukaemia virus - HTLV-1 - acts at a large number of sites across the human genome.

According to their findings, it changes the folding pattern of human DNA in the cells it infects, affecting gene expression and increasing the risk of disease.

The virus is thought to infect ten million people globally - and up to 10% can develop aggressive forms of leukaemia or other diseases.

The researchers, from Imperial College London and The European Bioinformatics Institute, say the virus disrupts DNA loops by binding to the CTCF protein.

Researcher Professor Charles Bangham, of Imperial College, London, said: "Through binding to these specific sites in the genome, retroviruses like HTLV-1 can alter chromatin loops and disrupt how a number of important genes are regulated. This can lead to the abnormalities and disease, such as the leukaemia associated with HTLV-1."


Source: Melamed, A., Yaguchi, H., Miura, M., Witkover, A., Fitzgerald, T.W., Birney, E. and Bangham, C.R., 2018. The human leukemia virus HTLV-1 alters the structure and transcription of host chromatin in cis. bioRxiv, p.277335.

Link: https://elifesciences.org/articles/36245

 

Disclaimer: The news stories shared on this site are used as a way to inform our members and followers of updates and relevant information happening in Haematology. The BSH does not endorse the content of news items from external sources, and is not in a position to verify the findings, accuracy or the source of any studies mentioned. Any medical or drugs information is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.

News service provided by Englemed News http://www.englemed.co.uk/