DNA repair: easy to visualize, difficult to elucidate.
Faithful repair of DNA damage is essential for the maintenance of genome integrity. Recent advances in the local induction of DNA damage and in cell biological imaging techniques have extended our understanding of DNA repair gained from biochemical and genetic approaches; these advances now reveal that the assembly of DNA repair complexes at sites of DNA damage is spatially and temporally regulated. Visualization of the dynamics of double strand breaks in living cells has also provided valuable insights into how chromosomal translocations form. Here we outline the most commonly used tools to induce and visualize the DNA repair process and we discuss the advantages and disadvantages inherent to each method.
Nagy
Zita
Z
Department of Cancer Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 596, Centre Universitaire de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, France.
Soutoglou
Evi
E
D000818:Animals; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases