Plant Protein BDH's Key Role in Genetic Material Organization Discovered

A study by the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) reveals the "key role" of the protein BDH in plant growth, affecting genetic material organization within cells. Using artificial intelligence, researchers confirmed the protein's structure is evolutionarily conserved. Published in 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' (PNAS), the research suggests a similar function in other species, impacting cellular regulation linked to diseases like cancer. The team, led by Javier Gallego Bartolomé, analyzed BDH's molecular function within the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler. "This mechanism has been conserved throughout evolution and plays a key role in gene regulation," said Gallego. The study identifies genetic variations in Oregon ash trees that could protect them from the emerald ash borer and rising temperatures. Researchers found that some trees in the southern range are more resistant to the beetle and heat. Breeding these trees with northern populations could help the species survive. Conservationists need to act fast, as the emerald ash borer has been spotted in Oregon.