Surviving an Oxygen Atmosphere: DNA Damage and Repair.
As a consequence of life's coexistence with the reactive diradical O(2), cells have adapted biochemical defense mechanisms for protection from oxidative damage. Nevertheless, it is estimated that each cell's genomic DNA undergoes thousands of oxidative hits per day, and even more under conditions of stress. Unrepaired oxidative damage to DNA leads to mutations that underlie cancer, aging and neurological disease. Recent studies have helped unravel the oxidation chemistry of the DNA bases, and the myriad biochemical responses of DNA processing enzymes that battle against mutation. On the positive side, oxidative damage to nucleobases may accelerate the evolution of genomes and could have played a role in the ancestry of redox-active nucleoside cofactors as well as the adaptation of early life to changes in the environment.
Burrows
Cynthia J
CJ
Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0850 USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 12;103(50):18896-9
17138669
Chem Res Toxicol. 2006 Apr;19(4):491-505
16608160
J Am Chem Soc. 2008 Jan 16;130(2):703-9
18081286
Nature. 2007 Jun 21;447(7147):941-50
17581577
J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Nov 19;125(46):13926-7
14611206
Acc Chem Res. 2008 Aug;41(8):1075-83
18666785
Chem Res Toxicol. 2001 Jul;14(7):927-38
11453741
Nature. 2001 May 17;411(6835):366-74
11357144
Biochemistry. 2003 Aug 12;42(31):9257-62
12899611
Org Lett. 2000 Mar 9;2(5):613-6
10814391
Biochemistry. 2008 Jul 8;47(27):7137-46
18543945
J Mol Evol. 1976 Mar 29;7(2):101-4
1263263