Access

News and Views

Nature 433, 467-468 (3 February 2005) | doi:10.1038/433467a; Published online 2 February 2005

Open Innovation Challenges

Cell biology:  Holding sisters for repair

Tatsuya Hirano1

Top

When a DNA molecule breaks, its complementary copy can be used as a template for repair. A familiar protein complex is recruited to the damaged site, keeping it close to the undamaged copy.

Before a cell divides, it must replicate its DNA, producing two identical copies of each chromosome, known as sister chromatids. When one of the sister chromatids suffers a break that affects both of its DNA strands, it is mended by 'homologous recombination'.

  1. Tatsuya Hirano is at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.
    e-mail: Email: hirano@cshl.edu

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Nbs1 moving up in the world

Nature Cell Biology News and Views (01 Jul 2005)