DNA metabolism articles from across Nature Portfolio

Breakage of both chromosomal DNA strands creates unique problems for DNA repair. Here, Luthman et al. show that for some broken ends, the two strand breaks are repaired in parallel, while for other ends one strand must be repaired before the other.

Telomere length is tightly controlled in normal cellular function and the human population. Here, the authors reveal that telomere synthesis is bidirectionally constrained by cellular nucleotide pools, in a manner which may be therapeutically manipulated.

DNA:RNA hybrids are linked to genetic instability in several pathological situations. Here, the authors report that various types of DNA lesions can trigger hybrid formation in yeast and humans, calling for a re-examination of the causality between these structures and genetic instability.

A 2017 cryo-electron microscopy structure that resolved the orientation of the replicative helicase CMG at the DNA replication fork caused a major shift in our understanding of DNA replication.

Adequate levels of nucleotides are essential to ensure genetic stability of proliferating cells. A study finds gap-junction-mediated transport of nucleotides in specific tissues of Drosophila.

High levels of superoxide (O₂•^–) are known to regulate plant stem cell behavior, but its downstream effectors remain unclear. O₂•^– was found to directly promote DNA demethylase ROS1 activity to maintain the stemness of plant shoot apical meristem.

The integrity of the mitochondrial genome (mitochondrial DNA) is crucial for energy synthesis in all complex life. A study now reveals a vicious cycle of mtDNA replication within dysfunctional mitochondria that preferentially propagates genomes carrying deleterious mutations.