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. Read more