Researchers have captured the first atomic structures of human SMUG1, an enzyme that helps cells repair damaged DNA. The findings provide new insight into how cells recognize and remove harmful DNA bases, and may support future efforts to develop drugs that target this DNA repair pathway.

“These structures give us the first detailed view of how human SMUG1 engages damaged DNA and carries out the first steps of repair,” says professor Pål Stenmark, who led the study.

DNA is constantly damaged by normal processes in our cells, as well as by environmental factors and cancer treatments. If the damage is not repaired, it can lead to permanent mutations.