Computer simulation shows buckyballs deform DNA

[Celebration]

http://www.physorg.com/news8780.html

Cummings' team found that, depending on the form the DNA takes, the 60-carbon-atom (C60) buckyball molecule can lodge in the end of a DNA molecule and break apart important hydrogen bonds within the double helix. They can also stick to the minor grooves on the outside of DNA, causing the DNA molecule to bend significantly to one side. Damage to the DNA molecule is even more pronounced when the molecule is split into two helices, as it does when cells are dividing or when the genes are being accessed to produce proteins needed by the cell.


"The binding energy between DNA and buckyballs is quite strong," Cummings says. "We found that the energies were comparable to the binding energies of a drug to receptors in cells."

It turns out that buckyballs have a stronger affinity for DNA than they do for themselves. "This research shows that if buckyballs can get into the nucleus, they can bind to DNA," Cummings says. "If the DNA is damaged, it can be inhibited from self-repairing."

[stepnw1f]

1. Wow...

That nuts... Unbreakable!

[tridim]

2. So, bad for healthy cells but potentially good for killing cancer cells?

Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

[bleever]

3. Great. It's Ice-Nine.

[bemildred]

4. Don't tell the Pentagon. nt

[Massacure]

5. What is a buckyball?

[Celebration]

6. picture

This is a model of it.

Wikipedia has a reasonable explanation--

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckyballs

[mainegreen]

7. Great, another DDT.

:eyes:

[Meldread]

8. I know it's immature but...

I laughed at his name. Cummings. Heh.

Someone please shoot me.