Next-generation sequencing techniques were employed in the study to identify mutations in cells lacking PICH, highlighting its essential role in maintaining genomic stability.

Researchers at The University of Hong Kong have uncovered the critical role of the protein PICH in protecting DNA during cell division, which has significant implications for disease prevention, particularly cancer.

The study emphasizes the dangers posed by ultrafine anaphase bridges (UFBs) that can form during cell division, potentially leading to severe genetic damage if not properly managed.

Without functional PICH, cells accumulate significant genetic errors and experience dangerous chromosome rearrangements, which increase the risk of developing cancer.

PICH protects DNA through two mechanisms: it assists topoisomerase IIα in untangling DNA and collaborates with BLM helicase to manage tangled threads, thereby preventing genetic chaos.

Understanding the mechanisms of PICH is crucial, as it may lead to new treatments for cancers associated with chromosomal instability, including colorectal, gastric, and breast cancers.

The collaboration between Professors Gary Ying Wai Chan and Ken Hoi Tang Ma underscores the value of teamwork in scientific research, as they led this significant study.

The findings of this research, titled 'The Interplay of the Translocase Activity and Protein Recruitment Function of PICH in Ultrafine Anaphase Bridge Resolution and Genomic Stability,' were published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.