A new study published in Nature Communications has revealed that more than 200 metabolic enzymes can be found directly on human DNA. Many of these enzymes are typically known for producing energy in mitochondria, yet researchers discovered them sitting on chromatin inside the cell nucleus.

The study shows that different cell types, tissues, and cancers each display their own distinctive arrangement of metabolic enzymes within the nucleus. These enzymes interact with DNA in patterns that researchers describe as a "nuclear metabolic fingerprint," marking the first evidence that human cells may carry such unique nuclear signatures.

Scientists still need to determine the precise role these enzymes play in the nucleus. They could be driving chemical reactions, influencing whether genes are switched on or off, or contributing to structural support.…