The cellular control of DNA double-strand breaks

Shaun P. Scott, Tej K. Pandita

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most hazardous lesions arising in the genome of eukaryotic organisms, and yet occur normally during DNA replication, meiosis, and immune system development. The efficient repair of DSBs is crucial in maintaining genomic integrity, cellular viability, and the prevention of tumorigenesis. As a consequence, eukaryotic cells have evolved efficient mechanisms that sense and respond to DSBs and ultimately repair the break. The swiftness of the DNA DSB response has paved to the identification of sensors and transducers which allowed to generate a hierarchical signaling paradigm depicting the transduction of the damage signal to numerous downstream effectors (Fig. 1). The function of such effectors involve posttranslational modifications through phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation of the substrates. This review will address the control of DSBs in damaged eukaryotic cells, the physiological processes that require the introduction of a DSB into the genome, and the maintenance of DSBs in non-damaged cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1463-1475
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Cellular Biochemistry
Volume99
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 2006

Keywords

  • DNA
  • DSB
  • Recombination
  • Signaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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