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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

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

[DNA damage, repair and aging]

Akira Yasui1, Shin-ichiro Kanno, Masashi Takao

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer Tohoku University.

Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Geriatrics
|December 24, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative DNA damage accumulates with age, leading to cancer. Base excision repair mechanisms protect against this damage, offering insights into aging-related diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Context:

  • Oxidative DNA damage is a significant factor in aging and cancer development.
  • Reactive oxygen species generate frequent base lesions and single-strand breaks.
  • Base excision repair (BER) is a crucial, conserved pathway for repairing oxidative DNA damage.

Purpose:

  • To analyze proteins involved in oxidative DNA damage repair.
  • To elucidate novel protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in mammals.
  • To understand the link between DNA repair deficiency and aging-related diseases.

Summary:

  • Accumulation of oxidative DNA damage in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes contributes to aging and cancer.
  • While base lesions and single-strand breaks are common, BER effectively repairs them.
  • Analysis of BER proteins revealed new protective strategies against oxidative stress.

Impact:

  • Provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between DNA damage, aging, and disease.
  • Identifies novel mechanisms for protecting mammals from oxidative stress.
  • Informs potential therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases and cancer.

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