Mechanisms of eukaryotic DNA double strand break repair (original) (raw)

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Article

Mechanisms of eukaryotic DNA double strand break repair

Affiliation

1 Radiation Oncology Research Laboratory, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA

Abstract

For all cells, a DNA double strand break (DSB) is a dangerous lesion that can have profound consequences for the genome. If a DSB is encountered during mitosis, chromosomal separation may be adversely affected. Alternatively, during S phase a DSB may cause replication fork stalling or collapse. Improperly repaired DSBs can result in chromosomal rearrangements, senescence or activation of apoptotic pathways. Cells have developed sophisticated recombination pathways to metabolize and repair DSBs quickly as well as the capacity to differentiate physiologically occurring breaks from life threatening lesions. The two major pathways of recombination repair are known as non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). In this review, we will discuss the detection, response, and repair of DSBs in eukaryotes.

Keywords

Double Strand-Break Repair

Damage Detection and Response

Homologous Recombination

Non-Homologous End Joining

ATM

H2AX

Mre11 Complex

DNA-PK

Rad52

Rad51

Rad54

Review