Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Quantitation and Analysis of the Formation of HO-Endonuclease Stimulated Chromosomal Translocations by Single-Strand Annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
09:40

Quantitation and Analysis of the Formation of HO-Endonuclease Stimulated Chromosomal Translocations by Single-Strand Annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 23, 2011

Molecular targets and mechanisms in formation of chromosomal aberrations: contributions of Soviet scientists

I Belyaev1

  • 1Department of Genetic and Cellular Toxicology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Igor.Belyaev@genetics.su.se

Cytogenetic and Genome Research
|May 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This review suggests a small DNA fraction, linked to matrix attachment sites, acts as targets for chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Two primary mechanisms, recombination and telomere formation, explain CA generation and deletions.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cytogenetics

Background:

  • Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) are critical in genomic instability and disease.
  • Understanding CA formation mechanisms is crucial for genetic research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mechanisms of chromosomal aberration formation.
  • To emphasize Soviet/Russian research contributions.
  • To discuss the role of specific DNA targets in CA formation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies, with emphasis on Soviet/Russian investigations.
  • Analysis of DNA structural features associated with chromosomal breaks.
  • Cytogenetic analysis of chromosomal damage.

Main Results:

  • A minor fraction of genomic DNA, associated with matrix attachment sites, acts as molecular targets for CA formation.
  • DNA targets are enriched with AT base pairs and repetitive sequences.
  • Two main mechanisms proposed: reciprocal recombination for exchanges and telomere formation for deletions.
  • Chromosomal breaks and unrejoined ends may reflect decondensation of DNA domains.

Conclusions:

  • Specific DNA regions serve as targets for chromosomal exchange formation.
  • Recombination and telomere formation are key mechanisms in CA genesis.
  • Emerging technologies can further elucidate alternative theories on CA formation.

More Related Videos

Detection of Inter-chromosomal Stable Aberrations by Multiple Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (mFISH) and Spectral Karyotyping (SKY) in Irradiated Mice10:14

Detection of Inter-chromosomal Stable Aberrations by Multiple Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (mFISH) and Spectral Karyotyping (SKY) in Irradiated Mice

Published on: January 11, 2017

Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH07:54

Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH

Published on: August 19, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).
Mutations01:35

Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Fixing Double-strand Breaks02:04

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...
Fixing Double-strand Breaks02:04

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview