Targeting HR Repair as a Synthetic Lethal Approach to Increase DNA Damage Sensitivity by a RAD52 Inhibitor in BRCA2-Deficient Cancer Cells.

BRCA mutation, one of the most common types of mutations in breast and ovarian cancer, has been suggested to be synthetically lethal with depletion of RAD52. Pharmacologically inhibiting RAD52 specifically eradicates BRCA-deficient cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrated that curcumin, a plant polyphenol, sensitizes BRCA2-deficient cells to CPT-11 by impairing RAD52 recombinase in MCF7 cells.

The Sequin Illusion.

The Sequin Illusion can be seen when shapes are drawn in dotted lines, against a background of different brightness. This can be done either with bright dots over a dark background or with dark dots over a bright background, though the latter usually works better. The illusion appears as a wave of dark (or bright) spots inside the dotted shapes (like sequins!) in peripheral vision.

Curcumin-Mediated HDAC Inhibition Suppresses the DNA Damage Response and Contributes to Increased DNA Damage Sensitivity.

Chemo- and radiotherapy cause multiple forms of DNA damage and lead to the death of cancer cells. Inhibitors of the DNA damage response are candidate drugs for use in combination therapies to increase the efficacy of such treatments. In this study, we show that curcumin, a plant polyphenol, sensitizes budding yeast to DNA damage by counteracting the DNA damage response.