Summary of scientific news related with molecular biology focused on the medical labor.

1. DNADAMAGE AND RESPONSE
:
Carlos A. Osorio Gutiérrez
UPB
Faculty of Medicine
Medellín, 2015

4. INTRODUCTION
 Genome damages are very
common, that is why cells
have developed detecting and
reparation mechanisms that
let them conserve the original
code so their offspring could
keep the necessary structural
and functional characteristics
for its survival.

5. CT scan: DNA damage
‘Using new laboratory
technology, scientists have
shown that cellular damage is
detectable in patients after
CT scanning, according to a
new study led by researchers
at the Stanford University
School of Medicine.’

6. CT scan: DNA damage
 Stanford University School of
Medicine.
 67 patients undergoing cardiac
CT angiograms.
 Whole-genome sequencing +
flow cytometery
 Blood→ before and after
undergoing the procedure

7. RESULTS:
 ↑DNA damage and cell death
 ↑expression of genes
involved in cell repair and
death
 ↑%cells damaged by scan
(CD)→repaired
 ↓%CD→died
CT scan: DNA damage

8. CT scan: DNA damage
 It was not detected any
DNA damage in patients
who:
 Received the lowest doses
of radiation
 Were of average weight
 Had regular heart rates

9. STUDENT´S OPINION:
 I consider this discovery relevant
because it shows the adversal
effects of a necessary diagnostic
method as CT scanning, and also
promotes the biomolecular studies
to find a possible buffer of the
genome changes in affected cells.
CT scan: DNA damage

10. ATM: triggered alarm
 ‘How does our body keep its
DNA intact? Researchers at
Erasmus MC have just found a
new piece of this puzzle. They
discovered a novel alarm that
cells use to signal DNA
damage."We have now shown
that this alarm is also set off
during transcription
(expression) of damaged
genes.”’

11. ATM: triggered alarm
 Cellular metabolic
byproducts
 Chemicals
 Radiation
↓
DNA damage
↓
Alarm
 Erasmus MC

12. ATM: triggered alarm
←Alarm→
 Stops DNA duplication
and cell division
 UV-induced
transcription halting
 ATM protein
↓
↓

13. ATM: triggered alarm
 Alternative splicing of
gene transcripts
↓
 New protein variants
↓
 Counteracting negative
effects of DNA lesions.
↓
↓
ATM
protein
↓

14. ATM: triggered alarm
STUDENT´S OPINION:
• I find this discovery considerably
relevant because it shows another
target for biomolecular cancer
studies : (In some cases) the protein
it is not abscent but its alarm is
failing.

15. MEDICAL UTILITY

16. MEDICAL UTILITY
 The discovery of CT scanning
cell repercussions, could be
used as a reason for designing
less-harmful diagnostic
methods, with the same or
even more effectiveness.

17. MEDICAL UTILITY
 CT scanning damage mechanism
could be used as a target of
biomolecular investigation so if it
was not possible changing the
methods, it would be possible
reducing the adverse effects
(aging and tumor development).

18. MEDICAL UTILITY
 The discovery of the activating
mechanism of ATM protein
shows a new path for CA
treatment: based on the
correction of previous
processes of the ATM protein
activation.

19. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 A novel DNA damage alarm (June 25,2015) .
ScienceDaily. Retrieved on August 07 of 2015 from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/
150625081524.htm
 DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT
scanning, study finds (July 22,2015). ScienceDaily.
Retrieved on August 07 of 2015 from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/
150722144634.htm
 MARTINEZ SÁNCHEZ, Lina María. Biología
molecular. 8. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de
Medicina, 2015. 109-115p.

20. ‘Most people say that it is the
intellect which makes a great
scientist. They are wrong:
it is character.’
Albert Einstein