Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview of DNA Repair

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...

Nucleotide Excision Repair

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...

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Integrative proteomics and lipidomics reveals dual roles for lipid droplets in the host cell antiviral response.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Conformational dynamics, RNA binding, and phase separation regulate the multifunctionality of rabies virus P protein.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

The Redox Activity of Protein Disulphide Isomerase Functions in Non-Homologous End-Joining Repair to Prevent DNA Damage.

Aging cell·2025

Same author

Live-Cell SOFI Correlation with SMLM and AFM Imaging.

ACS bio & med chem Au·2023

Same author

5-HT<sub>3</sub> Receptors on Mitochondria Influence Mitochondrial Function.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Same author

Structural insights into the multifunctionality of rabies virus P3 protein.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2023

Same journal

Quantification of cell viability by automated analysis of live cell imaging.

Methods in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Flow cytometry evaluation of cytotoxicity exerted by effector immune cells against tumor cells.

Methods in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Time-lapse confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis of FOOD formation.

Methods in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Screening and identification of protein-protein interaction using proximity labeling.

Methods in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Quantitative high-content profiling of mitochondrial morphology with automated statistical analysis and integrated data visualization.

Methods in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Super-resolution imaging of cell death in Drosophila tissues via expansion and pan-expansion microscopy.

Methods in cell biology·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Visualization of miniSOG Tagged DNA Repair Proteins in Combination with Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ESI

Visualization of miniSOG Tagged DNA Repair Proteins in Combination with Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ESI

Published on: September 24, 2015

Visualizing DNA damage and repair using single molecule super resolution microscopy.

Sophie T B Morgan¹, Donna R Whelan¹, Ashley M Rozario¹

¹La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia.

Methods in Cell Biology

|February 15, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Super resolution microscopy visualizes DNA repair proteins at DNA damage sites. This technique allows detailed investigation of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways in cells.

Keywords:

DNA damage response DNA double strand break Super resolution microscopy dSTORM

More Related Videos

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Published on: June 8, 2018

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Published on: August 21, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Visualization of miniSOG Tagged DNA Repair Proteins in Combination with Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ESI

Visualization of miniSOG Tagged DNA Repair Proteins in Combination with Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ESI

Published on: September 24, 2015

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Published on: June 8, 2018

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Published on: August 21, 2021

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Microscopy Techniques
Molecular Biology

Background:

Epifluorescence microscopy is limited by diffraction, hindering detailed investigation of cellular processes.
Single molecule super resolution microscopy offers superior spatial resolution by overcoming the diffraction limit.
Understanding DNA damage response (DDR) pathways is crucial for cellular health and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline super resolution microscopy assays for studying DNA damage response (DDR).
To investigate the spatiotemporal organization of DNA repair proteins at damaged foci.
To quantify the colocalization of nascent DNA and DDR proteins.

Main Methods:

Utilizing single molecule super resolution microscopy to achieve resolutions beyond the diffraction limit.
Employing DNA damaging drugs on S-phase synchronized immortalized cell lines.
Incorporating 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) pulse labeling to track nascent DNA synthesis.
Performing immunolabeling to detect specific DNA damage response (DDR) proteins.

Main Results:

Super resolution microscopy enables visualization of individual fluorophore emissions, providing high spatial resolution.
The assays allow for detailed investigation of DNA damage response (DDR) events.
Colocalization analysis quantifies the spatial relationship between nascent DNA and DDR proteins at distinct time points.

Conclusions:

Super resolution microscopy is a powerful tool for dissecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of DNA repair.
These assays provide a framework for detailed interrogation of DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms.
The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how cells repair DNA damage.