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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
Published on: August 21, 2021
Abstract:
When the sun damages the skin, it also impairs the DNA. The DNA repair system is needed to maintain the genetic integrity of the epidermis. Defects in DNA repair (eg, xeroderma pigmentosum) commonly result in skin cancer. Sun-screens are important for preventing sun damage, but inadequate application by consumers is common, and protection against DNA damage is incomplete. The human population varies widely in its formation and response to DNA damage. Sequencing of individuals' DNA repair genes has revealed unexpected diversity, and some polymorphisms may be related to skin cancer risk. DNA damage has been linked to immune suppression in humans, and variations in this immune response also are linked to cancer risk.
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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...
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