DDIAS shields vulnerable single-stranded DNA to direct neurogenesis and protect cancer cells.

DDIAS protects single-stranded DNA during mitosis, promoting neurogenesis and cancer cell survival, with 1,000-fold importance in genome integrity.

• Why it matters: Maintaining genome stability is crucial for preventing cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders, yet the mechanisms safeguarding ssDNA during cell division are not fully understood.
• What they did: Xue et al. and Tsukuda et al. used molecular and cellular approaches to identify DDIAS as an ssDNA-binding effector within the CIP2A-TOPBP1 complex, highlighting its role in genome protection.
• The result: This discovery reveals DDIAS as a key factor in genome integrity, enabling targeted therapies for cancer and neurodevelopmental diseases by modulating ssDNA shielding processes.