Choreography of recombination proteins during the DNA damage response.
Genome integrity is frequently challenged by DNA lesions from both endogenous and exogenous sources. A single DNA double-strand break (DSB) is lethal if unrepaired and may lead to loss of heterozygosity, mutations, deletions, genomic rearrangements and chromosome loss if repaired improperly. Such genetic alterations are the main causes of cancer and other genetic diseases. Consequently, DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR) is an important process in all living organisms. DSBR is also the driving mechanism in most strategies of gene targeting, which has applications in both genetic and clinical research. Here we review the cell biological response to DSBs in mitotically growing cells with an emphasis on homologous recombination pathways in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in mammalian cells.
Lisby
Michael
M
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloees Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. mlisby@bio.ku.dk
Rothstein
Rodney
R
D000818:Animals; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction
D009687:Nuclear Proteins