Researchers at the University of Oxford and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have uncovered the mechanism by which cells identify and repair a highly toxic form of DNA damage that causes cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature ageing. The findings, published in Nucleic Acids Research, reveal how DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) – harmful DNA lesions induced by chemotherapy, formaldehyde, and UV exposure – are recognised and broken down by SPRTN, a key repair enzyme. The research team discovered a new region within SPRTN that enables it to selectively target DPC lesions, increasing its repair activity 67-fold while leaving surrounding structures unharmed.

A joint research team led by Dr. SeungBeum Suh (Center for Bionics) and Dr. Sehoon Kim (Center for Chemical and Biological Convergence) at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Sang-Rok Oh), and Professor Hyo-Jin Lee at Chungnam National University Hospital, has developed a next-generation intraoperative imaging platform using engineered beneficial bacteria that emit fluorescence specifically at tumor sites.

Sterols are beneficial plant metabolites with proven human health effects. In rapeseed (Brassica napus), enhancing sterol content could add significant nutritional value to edible oils.