The cellular response to general and programmed DNA double strand breaks.
DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are among the most dangerous lesions that can occur in the genome of eukaryotic cells. Proper repair of chromosomal DSBs is critical for maintaining cellular viability and genomic integrity and, in multi-cellular organisms, for suppression of tumorigenesis. Thus, eukaryotic cells have evolved specialized and redundant molecular mechanisms to sense, respond to, and repair DSBs. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made over the last decade in elucidating the identity and function of components that participate in the cellular response to chromosomal DSBs. Then, we discuss, in more depth, the response to DSBs that occur in the context of the V(D)J recombination and IgH class switch recombination reactions that occur in cells of the lymphocyte lineage.
Department of Genetics, The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, The Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Craig H
CH
Bassing
Frederick W
FW
Alt
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D045567:VDJ Recombinases / Q000502:physiology
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D045567:VDJ Recombinases