DNA modifications: Biomarkers for the exposome?
Carolina Möller1, Jazmine Virzi1, Yuan-Jhe Chang2
1Oxidative Stress Group, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
|April 18, 2024
Summary
The exposome encompasses all life exposures. DNA adductomics comprehensively analyzes DNA modifications, revealing environmental disease origins and enabling exposure source identification.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Toxicology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The exposome comprises all environmental exposures throughout life, influencing health.
- Environmental exposures can cause DNA modifications linked to diseases like cancer.
- Traditional methods limited the assessment of multiple DNA modifications simultaneously.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce DNA adductomics as a method for comprehensive DNA modification analysis.
- To highlight DNA adductomics' potential in understanding the exposome and disease etiology.
- To demonstrate the utility of adductomics in tracing environmental exposure sources.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of DNA adductomics to identify and quantify diverse DNA modifications.
- Utilizing patterns of DNA adducts to infer exposure origins.
- Integration with other 'omic' approaches for a holistic exposome analysis.
Main Results:
- DNA adductomics provides a comprehensive profile of DNA adduct burden.
- Patterns of DNA modifications can be linked to specific environmental exposures.
- This approach facilitates a 'top-down' investigation of environmental health impacts.
Conclusions:
- DNA adductomics is a powerful tool for dissecting the exposome.
- It enables a deeper understanding of the environmental factors contributing to human diseases.
- This methodology is crucial for identifying exposure sources and mitigating health risks.
Related Concept Videos
01:38Nucleotide Excision Repair
3.5K
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...
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...
3.5K
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
3.0K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
3.0K
02:54Nucleosome Remodeling
9.1K
Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
9.1K