DNA degradation and its defects
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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Reporter-based Growth Assay for Systematic Analysis of Protein Degradation
Published on: November 6, 2014
Kohki Kawane1, Kou Motani1, Shigekazu Nagata2
1Department of Medical Chemistry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida-Konoe, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Abstract:
DNA is one of the most essential molecules in organisms, containing all the information necessary for organisms to live. It replicates and provides a mechanism for heredity and evolution. Various events cause the degradation of DNA into nucleotides. DNA also has a darker side that has only recently been recognized; DNA that is not properly degraded causes various diseases. In this review, we discuss four deoxyribonucleases that function in the nucleus, cytosol, and lysosomes, and how undigested DNA causes such diseases as cancer, cataract, and autoinflammation. Studies on the biochemical and physiological functions of deoxyribonucleases should continue to increase our understanding of cellular functions and human diseases.
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