Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy
Published on: June 8, 2018
A third link connecting aging with double strand break repair.
William R Engels1, Dena Johnson-Schlitz, Carlos Flores
1Genetics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. wrengels@wisc.edu
Aging DNA repair mechanisms shift from simple end-joining to homologous repair as organisms age. This age-related change in double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway usage offers new insights into aging molecular basis.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Accumulation of DNA damage, particularly double-strand breaks (DSBs), is a hallmark of aging.
- Defects in DNA repair genes are linked to premature aging and age-related diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emerging third link between aging and DNA repair: age-dependent changes in DSB repair mechanisms.
- To review existing evidence and present new data on the underlying causes of these shifts.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging and DNA repair.
- Presentation of new experimental data analyzing DSB repair pathway usage in different age groups.
- Testing models for the causes of age-related shifts in repair mechanisms.
Main Results:
- A shift in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair mechanisms with age has been observed.
- Younger organisms predominantly use simpler end-joining repair, while older organisms show a trend towards homologous repair pathways.
- This phenomenon has been observed in a limited number of experimental systems.
Conclusions:
- Age-related changes in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway usage represent a significant, though not yet universally established, link between aging and DNA repair.
- Establishing the generality of this phenomenon could provide novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of aging.
- Understanding these shifts may illuminate how evolutionary processes have shaped aging and repair mechanisms.
More Related Videos
06:59Using Next Generation Sequencing to Identify Mutations Associated with Repair of a CAS9-induced Double Strand Break Near the CD4 Promoter
Published on: March 31, 2022
10:47Immunofluorescence Microscopy of γH2AX and 53BP1 for Analyzing the Formation and Repair of DNA Double-strand Breaks
Published on: November 3, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Homologous Recombination
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
Long-patch Base Excision Repair