Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging
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Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging

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Therapeutic upregulation of DNA repair pathways: strategies and small molecule activators

Juhyung Song1, Cheoljun Park1, Francis E B Cabanting2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon Republic of Korea 43131 ywjun@kaist.ac.kr.

RSC Medicinal Chemistry
|October 21, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Declining DNA repair with age increases disease risk. This review explores therapeutic targets and small molecules to enhance DNA repair, aiming to reduce disease susceptibility and side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • DNA repair activity naturally declines with aging and genetic mutations.
  • This decline elevates the risk of developing cancer and other age-related diseases.
  • Enhancing DNA repair is a promising therapeutic strategy to combat disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review potential therapeutic targets for upregulating DNA repair pathways.
  • To discuss small-molecule activators, their chemical properties, and mechanisms of action.
  • To highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding to develop effective therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on DNA repair mechanisms and activators.
  • Analysis of reported small-molecule compounds targeting DNA repair pathways.
  • Discussion of the mechanisms by which these compounds modulate repair activity.

Main Results:

  • Identified several potential therapeutic targets for enhancing DNA repair.
  • Detailed chemical structures and properties of various small-molecule DNA repair activators.
  • Elucidated diverse mechanisms through which these molecules influence repair processes.

Conclusions:

  • Upregulating DNA repair offers a strategy to mitigate disease risk with potentially fewer side effects.
  • Challenges remain in efficient activator screening and identifying optimal targets.
  • A deeper mechanistic understanding is crucial for advancing therapeutic development in DNA repair.

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