On the 60th anniversary of the publication of the double helix structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), scientists from the University of Cambridge claim to have discovered a “quadruple helix” DNA structure in the human genome, according to the latest foreign media reports. In 1953, James D. Watson and Francis Crick, also of Cambridge University, published a famous paper in Nature revealing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. This paper, so concise at only two pages, opened the door to the exploration of the fundamental mysteries of living organisms and laid the foundation for later discoveries such as the genetic code. Now, scientists have discovered a four-stranded helix DNA structure, which they call “G-quadruplexes” (G-quadruplexes), and the study was published in the recent NatureChemistry journal. The University of Cambridge statement on Jan. 20 said that G-quadruplexes are found in the guanine-rich (G) portion of DNA, the unit of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, in which sugars are linked to phosphate by ester bonds to form a long chain backbone. There are four bases in DNA, adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T), and these bases are arranged along the long chain of DNA to form the sequence that makes up the genetic code. The research, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, took more than a decade to identify this structure in human cancer cells through computer simulations, laboratory manipulations and fluorescent biomarkers. “The next study will reveal the link between the number of tetraloids and DNA replication, which is essential for cell division and proliferation,” explained the Cambridge staff. “By synthesizing a certain molecule, we are able to capture and control these quadruple helix DNA structures, preventing them from By synthesizing a molecule, we can capture and control these quadruple-helix DNA structures, preventing them from replicating and thus ending cell division. The scientists believe this approach might be used to end the unlimited proliferation of cancer cells.” “We have observed a link between capturing tetraplexes and terminating cell division, which is very encouraging,” said lead researcher Shankar Balasubramanian, professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, “and the finding that tetraplexes are more commonly found in rapidly dividing cells. The study found that tetraspanins are more common in the genes of rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. For us, this strongly supports new therapeutic avenues that use these tetraplex structures as targets for future personalized treatments.” Previously, scientists had demonstrated that quadruple helix DNA could be formed in test tubes, but it was generally not thought that such structures could exist naturally. The Cambridge University team not only confirmed this, but found that the structure is also present in the DNA of human cells. The results will be used in the treatment of the disease, according to Cancer Research UK staff. “The study further highlights the potential of these unusual DNA structures for cancer treatment, and the next step is to find ways to localize them in cancer cells,” said Julie Sharp, Ph.D., senior scientific and technical information manager at the research center, “Since the DNA structure has been proposed for 60 years now, but research efforts such as these suggest that the story of exploring the mysteries of DNA will continue.” Balasubramani added, “The quadruple helix DNA structure will likely be the key to selectively terminating the proliferation of cancer cells. The discovery of the presence of this structure in human cells is a real milestone.”