Hepatitis-promoting protein caught in the act

When your body, or a nasty virus invading it, cooks up a batch of genes, helicases – an enzyme, or type of catalyzing protein molecule – appear to be bigger than Betty Crocker in the kitchen.

The tasks performed by the proteins apparently include the unwinding of the tightly coiled ribbonlike DNA and RNA molecules containing the instructions for gene making.

Also on this date

• Conservative fund's causing a stir on campus
• Search intensifies for Sadorus mother of seven
• Urbana finds vroom to improve
• UI student leaders get lessons in fire safety
• Arcola man restoring beauty, history
• Yahoo's lagging growth a cause for concern
• What you ought to know about Yahoo
• It's your business: C-U shop to feature furniture by Amish
• Obituaries