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Updated: May 11, 2026
10:59
Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
Published on: August 21, 2021
The AID-induced DNA damage response in chromatin
Jeremy A Daniel1, André Nussenzweig
1Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. jeremy.daniel@cpr.ku.dk
Molecular Cell
|May 14, 2013
Summary
Chromatin modifications impact gene expression and stability. This review explores how chromatin proteins influence DNA repair after activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) activity, crucial for antibody diversity but potentially oncogenic.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Genetics
Background:
- Chemical modifications to DNA and histones regulate gene expression and genome stability.
- Chromatin accessibility is essential for processes like antibody diversity generation via somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination.
- Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) mediates DNA deamination, initiating repair pathways that can lead to oncogenic translocations if mismanaged.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of chromatin-modifying activities and binding proteins in the context of AID-induced DNA damage and repair.
- To highlight the importance of the native chromatin environment for targeted DNA repair.
- To identify outstanding questions regarding histone modifications and AID function.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on chromatin structure, DNA repair, and AID function.
- Analysis of the interplay between chromatin modifiers and DNA repair pathways.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on AID-mediated DNA damage in antibody gene diversification.
Main Results:
- Chromatin-modifying proteins and activities shape the environment where AID-induced DNA damage occurs and is repaired.
- The accessibility of chromatin is a critical factor in AID targeting and subsequent DNA repair outcomes.
- Histone posttranslational modifications and AID's extragenic roles require further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Chromatin plays a crucial role in regulating the repair of AID-induced DNA damage, influencing both physiological processes and disease risk.
- Understanding the chromatin landscape is key to deciphering the mechanisms underlying AID function and its potential oncogenic consequences.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of histone modifications and the broader functions of AID.
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