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Related Concept Videos

Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...

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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy
08:31

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Published on: June 8, 2018

Mechanisms and implications of the age-associated decrease in DNA repair capacity.

D Goukassian1, F Gad, M Yaar

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
|July 6, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Aging significantly reduces the DNA repair rate of UV-induced damage in human skin cells. This decline is linked to lower levels of key proteins involved in nucleotide excision repair, impacting skin cancer prevention.

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Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
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Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy
08:31

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Published on: June 8, 2018

Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter
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Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
10:59

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Published on: August 21, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Dermatology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Skin cancer incidence correlates with UV exposure and increases with age.
  • DNA damage accumulation is a hallmark of aging and cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the age-dependent efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms for UV-induced photoproducts.
  • To identify age-related changes in proteins and gene expression involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER).

Main Methods:

  • Assessing the removal rates of thymine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts in UV-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts from donors of varying ages.
  • Quantifying protein and mRNA levels of key NER factors (ERCC3, PCNA, RPA, XPA, p53) using techniques like Western blotting and RT-PCR.
  • Analyzing the induction of p53 protein levels post-UV irradiation in aged versus young cells.

Main Results:

  • A significant age-associated decrease in the repair rates of both thymine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts was observed (P<0.001).
  • Protein levels of ERCC3, PCNA, RPA, XPA, and p53 were significantly reduced in older donors.
  • mRNA levels of XPA, ERCC3, and PCNA were also reduced with aging, indicating regulation at the mRNA level.
  • UV-induced p53 protein expression was diminished in aged cells.

Conclusions:

  • The efficiency of repairing UV-induced DNA damage declines with age in human dermal fibroblasts.
  • This age-related decline in DNA repair is associated with reduced expression of critical nucleotide excision repair proteins, often regulated at the mRNA level.
  • Decreased DNA repair capacity with aging may contribute to increased susceptibility to skin cancer.