Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
DNA repair is a collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. [1] In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors such as radiation can cause DNA damage, resulting in tens of thousands of individual molecular lesions per cell per day. [2]
Critically short telomeres trigger a DNA damage response and cellular senescence. [32] Mice have much longer telomeres, but a greatly accelerated telomere shortening-rate and greatly reduced lifespan compared to humans and elephants. [33] Telomere shortening is associated with aging, mortality, and aging-related diseases in experimental animals.
(A) Telomere-bound proteins involved in preventing the activation of the DNA damage response checkpoint and of DSB repair mechanisms in S. cerevisiae (top) and in humans (bottom). (B) Overview of the normal function of telomere-shelterin complexes and the pathways activated by telomere shortening. [5]
However, the genes that have mutated in these diseases all have roles in the repair of DNA damage and the increased DNA damage may, itself, be a factor in the premature aging (see DNA damage theory of aging). An additional role in maintaining telomere length is an active area of investigation.
Furthermore, the natural ends of the linear chromosomes resemble DSBs, and although DNA breaks can cause damage to the integrity of genomic DNA, the natural ends are packed into complex specialized DNA protective packages called telomeres that prevent DNA repair activities. [3] [4] Telomeres and mitotic DSBs have different functionality, but ...
Shelterin (also called telosome) is a protein complex known to protect telomeres in many eukaryotes from DNA repair mechanisms, as well as to regulate telomerase activity. In mammals and other vertebrates, telomeric DNA consists of repeating double-stranded 5'-TTAGGG-3' (G-strand) sequences (2-15 kilobases in humans) along with the 3'-AATCCC-5' (C-strand) complement, ending with a 50-400 ...
Telomere-binding proteins not present may cause the exposed telomeres to undergo a DNA repair response, having mistakenly identified the ends as a double-stranded break. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] This is due to the 3’ overhang, which gradually shortens over time.
The MRN complex (MRX complex in yeast) is a protein complex consisting of Mre11, Rad50 and Nbs1 (also known as Nibrin [1] in humans and as Xrs2 in yeast). In eukaryotes, the MRN/X complex plays an important role in the initial processing of double-strand DNA breaks prior to repair by homologous recombination or non-homologous end joining.