{
  "id": 12438522,
  "title": "Blue-light labeling uncovers unexpected protein partners of folded DNA structures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/blue-light-labeling-uncovers-unexpected-protein-partners-of-folded",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-06T18:20:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-blue-uncovers-unexpected-protein-partners.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Blue-light labeling technique reveals unexpected protein interactions with DNA folded into structures called G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes, or G4s, form in guanine-rich regions of the genome, including telomeres and gene control regions. These structures interact differently depending on their location and binding proteins, making understanding these interactions crucial. Previous biochemical assays struggled to capture the full picture of these interactions, but a team from Tohoku University developed a new method using blue-light photocatalysis. This technique successfully identified over 1,000 candidate proteins near human telomeric G4s, with hexokinase-1 (HK1) emerging as an unexpected participant. HK1, an enzyme involved in glucose metabolism, was previously not known to interact with G4s. The binding was confirmed through purified protein assays, and further studies showed the interaction was tightly held. This discovery suggests a potential connection between metabolism and gene regulation, areas typically studied separately. While the precise biological relationship between HK1 and G4s remains unclear, the team hopes this method will help uncover new insights into cancer and metabolic diseases.",
  "summary": "DNA can be more than just a double helix. When four strands are folded into a compact bundle, they form a G-quadruplex (G4). These bundles form in guanine-rich regions across the genome, including telomeres at the ends of chromosomes and the control regions of genes, where the proteins that dock onto them help decide which genes are switched on. G4 does not act the same way everywhere. What it…",
  "key_points": [
    "Blue-light labeling technique uncovers 1,000+ protein candidates near G-quadruplexes",
    "Hexokinase-1 (HK1) identified as unexpected protein interacting with DNA structures",
    "Discovery suggests potential link between metabolism and gene regulation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}