DNA mismatch repair-dependent DNA damage responses and cancer

Canonical DNA mismatch repair (MMR) excises base-base mismatches to increase the fidelity of DNA replication. Thus, loss of MMR leads to increased spontaneous mutagenesis. MMR genes also are involved in the suppression of mutagenic, and the induction of protective, responses to various types of DNA damage. In this review we describe these non-canonical roles of MMR at different lesion types. Loss of non-canonical MMR gene functions may have important ramifications for the prevention, development and treatment of colorectal cancer associated with inherited MMR gene defects in Lynch syndrome. This graphical review pays tribute to Samuel H. Wilson. Sam not only made seminal contributions to understanding base excision repair, particularly with respect to structure-function relationships in DNA polymerase β but also, as Editor of DNA Repair, has maintained a high standard of the journal.