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New Enzyme ORF2p Linked to Cancer-Related DNA Disruptions

10/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

ORF2p cuts DNA during replication in human cells, creating staggered cuts that produce short duplications and explain LINE-1 insertion clustering.
The enzyme's flexible structure allows it to nick both DNA strands and to attach to repetitive DNA regions.
ORF2p can reverse transcribe various cellular RNAs.
LINE-1 activity poses risks for gene disruption and mutations, especially in cancer.
The study is published in Science.

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Story summary

ORF2p cuts DNA during replication in human cells, creating staggered cuts that produce short duplications and explain LINE-1 insertion clustering.
The enzyme's flexible structure allows it to nick both DNA strands and to attach to repetitive DNA regions.
ORF2p can reverse transcribe various cellular RNAs.
LINE-1 activity poses risks for gene disruption and mutations, especially in cancer.
The study is published in Science.