Australian researchers say that they have found a specific type of DNA structure that could be key in regulating how the brain forms memories.

In a study published on Friday, international researchers led by a team from the Australian National University (ANU) discovered that G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA) plays a role in transcribing memories.

G4-DNA is generally found in cells when DNA sequences fold into a different, four-stranded structure. It is usually associated with DNA damage and is frequently observed in cancer cells.

Paul Marshall, the study’s lead author from the ANU College of Health and Medicine, said that G4-DNA’s involvement in stalling the basic functions of some cells had previously been discovered.

Mr Marshall said the new findings were the first evidence of its role in making new memories.

The study found that the accumulation of G4-DNA in neurons in the brain is required for the activation and silencing of genes that are critically involved in learning and memory.

“We found that casually manipulating G4-DNA can lead to a substantial impairment in memory,” Mr Marshall said in a media release. “But in other scenarios, it can result in increased transcription. It can have different effects on memory depending on the area of the brain and type of memory involved.”

The research was conducted on living cells from mice in collaboration with scientists from the University of Queensland, Linköping University in Sweden, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and the University of California.

(Xinhua/NAN)