Structures long blamed for blocking genes actually help them turn on, according to the Cornell Chronicle. Cornell scientists found that nucleosomes — the spools that package DNA — relieve twisting stress during gene transcription, making gene expression easier.
As RNA polymerase moves along DNA, it creates torsional strain, like overtwisting a rope. The study shows nucleosomes counteract that strain because they wrap DNA in the opposite direction, acting as a built-in buffer.
Advanced tools let researchers twist and measure DNA at the molecular level, revealing how nucleosomes and other enzymes work together to keep transcription moving. The discovery reshapes how scientists understand gene regulation and its links to cancer and disease.
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