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Related Concept Videos

Long-patch Base Excision Repair01:02

Long-patch Base Excision Repair

Since the discovery of the two BER pathways, there has been a debate about how a cell chooses one pathway over the other and the factors determining this selection. Numerous in vitro experiments have pointed out multiple determinants for the sub-pathway selection. These are:
Base Excision Repair01:54

Base Excision Repair

One of the common DNA damages is the chemical alteration of single bases by alkylation, oxidation, or deamination. The altered bases cause mispairing and strand breakage during replication. This type of damage causes minimal change to the DNA double helix structure and can be repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathways. BER corrects damaged DNA sequences by removing the damaged base and restoring the original base sequence using the complementary strand as a template.
The first step of...
Base Excision Repair01:54

Base Excision Repair

One of the common DNA damages is the chemical alteration of single bases by alkylation, oxidation, or deamination. The altered bases cause mispairing and strand breakage during replication. This type of damage causes minimal change to the DNA double helix structure and can be repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathways. BER corrects damaged DNA sequences by removing the damaged base and restoring the original base sequence using the complementary strand as a template.
The first step of...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
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...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging
06:44

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2021

Base excision repair.

Hans E Krokan1, Magnar Bjørås

  • 1Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway. hans.krokan@ntnu.no

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|April 3, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Base excision repair (BER) is crucial for DNA repair, correcting damage from oxidation and alkylation. This vital process protects against cancer, aging, and neurodegeneration, with emerging roles in immunity and epigenetics.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Base excision repair (BER) is a fundamental DNA repair pathway.
  • It corrects DNA base damage caused by oxidation, deamination, and alkylation.
  • BER involves DNA glycosylases that remove damaged bases, initiating repair via short- or long-patch mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the mechanisms and significance of Base Excision Repair.
  • To highlight the diversity and specificity of mammalian DNA glycosylases.
  • To explore the expanding roles of BER in adaptive immunity and epigenetics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Base Excision Repair pathways.
  • Analysis of the functions of various DNA glycosylases.

More Related Videos

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence
07:55

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence

Published on: June 26, 2020

Quantitative, Real-time Analysis of Base Excision Repair Activity in Cell Lysates Utilizing Lesion-specific Molecular Beacons
15:01

Quantitative, Real-time Analysis of Base Excision Repair Activity in Cell Lysates Utilizing Lesion-specific Molecular Beacons

Published on: August 6, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging
06:44

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2021

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence
07:55

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence

Published on: June 26, 2020

Quantitative, Real-time Analysis of Base Excision Repair Activity in Cell Lysates Utilizing Lesion-specific Molecular Beacons
15:01

Quantitative, Real-time Analysis of Base Excision Repair Activity in Cell Lysates Utilizing Lesion-specific Molecular Beacons

Published on: August 6, 2012

  • Discussion of the implications of BER in cellular processes and disease.

    • Main Results:

    • At least 11 distinct mammalian DNA glycosylases exist, with overlapping specificities.
    • BER efficiently identifies damaged bases amidst a large excess of normal bases.
    • BER functions in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA repair.
    • Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG2) plays a role in adaptive immunity.
    • Other DNA glycosylases may be involved in epigenetic regulation.

    Conclusions:

    • Base excision repair is essential for maintaining genomic stability and preventing diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.
    • The repertoire of DNA glycosylases and their functions, including roles in immunity and epigenetics, is broader than previously understood.
    • BER's efficiency and diverse roles underscore its critical importance in cellular health.