A gene called ATM prevents chromosomes from being mixed up by acting as a traffic cop during DNA repair, U.S. scientists reported.

The ATM gene influences the short time frame for broken DNA to reassemble while directing the right pieces of DNA to hook together, said Sang Eun Lee, Ph.D., lead author from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio said in a news release.

Like thread, chromosomes, which are coiling ribbons of DNA in every cell, can be broken in several places by damage from sunlight, diet or another source, the university said. They must be reassembled during the repair process.

The yeast cells used in the study are relevant to human cells since the DNA repair mechanism is conserved across species, the researchers said.

Children with deficient ATM suffer lymphoma and other cancers in childhood, but it has not been known how ATM is involved in cancer development, the university said. Also unknown was how chromosomal changes of location occur during DNA repair.

The study was reported in the latest edition of Nature.

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