The proteins that copy DNA are not perfect. Luckily, our cells can fix broken DNA via a process called homologous recombination repair, which involves proteins like RAD51. RAD51 helps protect DNA from being degraded by cell enzymes as it is copied.

David Cortez, PhD, and colleagues reported last month in the journal Cell Reports that another protein they identified, RADX, is a modulator of RAD51. They found that RADX helps keep RAD51 in check in order to make sure exactly the correct amount of DNA repair occurs.