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Related Concept Videos

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...
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
Duplication of Chromatin Structure02:05

Duplication of Chromatin Structure

The process of chromosome duplication during cell division requires genome-wide disruption and re-assembly of chromatin. The chromatin structure must be accurately inherited, reassembled, and maintained in the daughter cells to ensure lineage propagation.
The basic unit of the chromatin is the nucleosome, consisting of DNA wrapped around octameric histone proteins and short stretches of linker DNA separating individual nucleosomes. The histone proteins within the nucleosome have their...
The DNA Replication Fork01:02

The DNA Replication Fork

An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork.   Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Capturing Common Fragile Site Breaks by Native γH2A.X ChIP
09:46

Capturing Common Fragile Site Breaks by Native γH2A.X ChIP

Published on: January 24, 2025

Chromosome fragile sites.

Sandra G Durkin1, Thomas W Glover

  • 1Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0618, USA. sdurkin@umich.edu

Annual Review of Genetics
|July 5, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Chromosomal fragile sites, particularly common fragile sites, are crucial genomic regions sensitive to replication stress. Their instability is linked to DNA damage and genome instability in cancer cells.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Chromosomal fragile sites are specific chromosome regions prone to gaps and breaks during DNA replication.
  • Rare fragile sites are inherited and linked to genetic disorders like FRAXA (FMR1 gene), revealing repeat expansion mutations.
  • Common fragile sites are ubiquitous and increasingly recognized for their role in genome instability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the genomic features of common fragile sites.
  • To understand cellular processes regulating common fragile site stability.
  • To explore the link between common fragile sites, replication stress, and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of chromosomal aberrations under conditions of partial DNA synthesis inhibition.

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A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene
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A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene

Published on: September 16, 2019

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

Published on: August 19, 2014

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Capturing Common Fragile Site Breaks by Native γH2A.X ChIP
09:46

Capturing Common Fragile Site Breaks by Native γH2A.X ChIP

Published on: January 24, 2025

A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene
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A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene

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Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH
07:54

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

Published on: August 19, 2014

  • Investigation of genomic characteristics of common fragile sites.
  • Integration of cell cycle checkpoint and DNA repair pathway research.

    • Main Results:

    • Common fragile sites are sensitive to replication stress and frequently rearranged in tumors.
    • Progress has been made in understanding their genomic features and stability regulation.
    • Studies connect fragile sites with DNA repair and cell cycle control.

    Conclusions:

    • Common fragile sites are key players in replication stress response and genome instability.
    • Their study provides insights into DNA damage and cancer development.
    • Understanding fragile sites merges genetics, cell cycle control, and cancer research.