Scientists from the University of Chicago and the University of Texas have found that mutations in the TET2 gene can lead to miswrapping of DNA, which leads to the development of malignant blood and brain diseases. The results of their research were published in the journal Nature.

Blood cancer, or leukemia, is a group of serious cancers that affect blood-forming organs and cause changes that lead to a dramatic increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood. Gradually, they displace healthy blood cells and accumulate in various tissues and organs, disrupting their work.

The exact cause of leukemia is unknown. A combination of environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role.

The TET2 gene may play a key role in the development of blood cancer. American scientists have found that it plays an important role in the regulation of RNA methylation, which in turn affects gene expression and DNA wrapping structure. Mutations in TET2 can disrupt this process, which can lead to abnormal chromatin conformation and contribute to the formation of malignant tumors, especially in the blood circulation system and nervous tissue.

The study showed that TET2 is responsible for changes in RNA associated with the MBD6 protein. It regulates the organization of chromatin, the nucleoprotein that forms the base of chromosomes. Failures of this mechanism provoke cellular chaos associated with the development of cancer. An experiment on cells from people suffering from leukemia has confirmed this theory: the ability of cancer cells to make MBD6 led to their destruction.

The scientists believe that their discovery could serve as a basis for the development of a drug that can destroy cancer cells with mutations in TET2.

Also, such research opens up new directions in the treatment of non-cancerous diseases associated with malfunctioning of this gene.