SAHF, Cancer And Aging

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From the LEF News, a short piece that is illustrative of the present day intersection of genetics, molecular biochemistry, cancer and aging research. "As cells reach senescence, an alteration in chromatic structure called senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF) silences the genes that trigger the cells growth. ... SAHF are domains of tightly packed chromatin that repress activity of the genes that normally trigger cell proliferation. [Researchers] have identified at least three proteins in the cell that contribute to the formation of SAHF. ... This research suggests the possibility that PML arises because the PML protein is not able to do its job in forming SAHF. If this is true, this study might help in the design of therapeutic drugs to treat cancer patients and even lessen some aspects of aging."

Link: http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=2272&Section=AGING