title: Repair of double-strand breaks by end joining.
abstract: Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) refers to a set of genome maintenance pathways in which two DNA double-strand break (DSB) ends are (re)joined by apposition, processing, and ligation without the use of extended homology to guide repair. Canonical NHEJ (c-NHEJ) is a well-defined pathway with clear roles in protecting the integrity of chromosomes when DSBs arise. Recent advances have revealed much about the identity, structure, and function of c-NHEJ proteins, but many questions exist regarding their concerted action in the context of chromatin. Alternative NHEJ (alt-NHEJ) refers to more recently described mechanism(s) that repair DSBs in less-efficient backup reactions. There is great interest in defining alt-NHEJ more precisely, including its regulation relative to c-NHEJ, in light of evidence that alt-NHEJ can execute chromosome rearrangements. Progress toward these goals is reviewed.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Kishore K
authors: KK
authors: Chiruvella
authors: Zhuobin
authors: Z
authors: Liang
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Wilson
mesh_terms: D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D059766:DNA End-Joining Repair; D000072481:DNA Ligase ATP; D011088:DNA Ligases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D011088:DNA Ligases; D000072481:DNA Ligase ATP
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