Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence
Published on: June 26, 2020
The SNM1A DNA repair nuclease
Hannah T Baddock1, Yuliana Yosaatmadja2, Joseph A Newman3
1Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
Abstract:
Unrepaired, or misrepaired, DNA damage can contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of conditions, or disease states; thus, DNA damage repair pathways, and the proteins within them, are required for the safeguarding of the genome. Human SNM1A is a 5'-to-3' exonuclease that plays a role in multiple DNA damage repair processes. To date, most data suggest a role of SNM1A in primarily ICL repair: SNM1A deficient cells exhibit hypersensitivity to ICL-inducing agents (e.g. mitomycin C and cisplatin); and both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate SNM1A and XPF-ERCC1 can function together in the 'unhooking' step of ICL repair. SNM1A further interacts with a number of other proteins that contribute to genome integrity outside canonical ICL repair (e.g. PCNA and CSB), and these may play a role in regulating SNM1As function, subcellular localisation, and post-translational modification state. These data also provide further insight into other DNA repair pathways to which SNM1A may contribute. This review aims to discuss all aspects of the exonuclease, SNM1A, and its contribution to DNA damage tolerance.
Insights
DNA damage repair is crucial for genome integrity. The human SNM1A protein, a 5'-to-3' exonuclease, plays a key role in repairing DNA interstrand crosslinks and other damage, safeguarding genomic stability.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- DNA damage accumulation can lead to disease.
- DNA repair pathways are essential for maintaining genome stability.
- Human SNM1A is a 5 o3 exonuclease involved in DNA repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the functions of the human SNM1A exonuclease.
- To discuss SNM1A's role in DNA damage tolerance.
- To explore SNM1A's involvement in interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on SNM1A.
- Analysis of SNM1A's interactions with other proteins (e.g., XPF-ERCC1, PCNA, CSB).
- Examination of SNM1A's role in cellular responses to DNA damaging agents.
Main Results:
- SNM1A is primarily implicated in ICL repair, functioning with XPF-ERCC1.
- SNM1A-deficient cells show hypersensitivity to ICL-inducing agents like mitomycin C and cisplatin.
- SNM1A interacts with proteins like PCNA and CSB, influencing its function and localization.
Conclusions:
- SNM1A is a critical protein for multiple DNA repair pathways.
- SNM1A contributes significantly to DNA damage tolerance and genome safeguarding.
- Further research into SNM1A's interactions may reveal additional roles in DNA repair.
Related Concept Videos
01:38Nucleotide Excision Repair
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...
01:08Nucleotide Excision Repair
02:31Homologous Recombination
01:36Mismatch Repair
01:20Mismatch Repair
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
01:02Long-patch Base Excision Repair