title: Mammalian DNA single-strand break repair: an X-ra(y)ted affair.
abstract: The genetic stability of living cells is continuously threatened by the presence of endogenous reactive oxygen species and other genotoxic molecules. Of particular threat are the thousands of DNA single-strand breaks that arise in each cell, each day, both directly from disintegration of damaged sugars and indirectly from the excision repair of damaged bases. If un-repaired, single-strand breaks can be converted into double-strand breaks during DNA replication, potentially resulting in chromosomal rearrangement and genetic deletion. Consequently, cells have adopted multiple pathways to ensure the rapid and efficient removal of single-strand breaks. A general feature of these pathways appears to be the extensive employment of protein-protein interactions to stimulate both the individual component steps and the overall repair reaction. Our current understanding of DNA single-strand break repair is discussed, and testable models for the architectural coordination of this important process are presented.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, G.38 Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, UK. keith.caldecott@man.ac.uk
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Caldecott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D011088:DNA Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D011088:DNA Ligases