A scientist at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) has received a $2 million grant to study a protein known as molecular Velcro. She’s hoping to find out what role it plays in cancer, birth defects and other genetic disorders. 

Susannah Rankin, Ph.D., will use the five-year grant to better understand the chromosomes that carry genetic data for human traits such as blood type, hair color and height.

“Within the nucleus of every cell in our body, we have genomes, each about three yards long,” Rankin said. “They’re packed tightly into the microscopic nucleus and organized so that we can grow and develop normally.” 

She’s particularly interested in cohesin, the protein that holds together two copies of DNA until the cells divide. It also helps organize DNA into loops that allow the body to turn genes on or off. 

Errors in these processes can lead to serious health issues. By understanding how the process works in normal conditions, researchers may be able to figure out why it can sometimes go wrong. 

“Dr. Rankin’s research is a deep dive into exactly how cohesin functions,” said Gary Gorbsky, Ph.D., program chair for OMRF’s Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology Research Program. “Ultimately, the knowledge gained from her work could lead to a range of improvements in human health.” 

Rankin’s grant came from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.