Cancer-linked protein binds to chromosome in unexpected way, study finds

Written by Sam Sholtis, Pennsylvania State University, on September 14, 2026

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan


Credit: Molecular Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.07.012

A new 3D structure of a cancer-linked protein bound to its cellular partner reveals details of how the protein binds to chromosomes and could offer insights for future disease treatments. The protein—BRD4—plays a critical role in how cells read, copy and repair DNA and helps determine how different kinds of cells are made; it has been linked to many types of cancer and is considered a promising target for future therapies. The study, led by scientists at Penn State and published in the journal Molecular Cell, found that BRD4 can attach to DNA-packaging structures in cells even without a molecular signal long believed to be necessary for the interaction.

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