A backup DNA repair pathway moves to the forefront.
Chromosomal translocations between antigen receptor loci and oncogenes are a hallmark of lymphoid cancers. Several new studies now reveal that programmed DNA breaks created during assembly of antigen receptor genes can be channeled into an alternative DNA end-joining pathway that is implicated in the chromosomal translocations of lymphoid cancers (Corneo et al., 2007; Soulas-Sprauel et al., 2007; Yan et al., 2007).
Nussenzweig
André
A
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. andre_nussenzwweig@nih.gov
Nussenzweig
Michel C
MC
D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology*; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000502:physiology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
D011946:Receptors, Antigen