DNA damage

DNA is susceptible to a variety of chemical modifications that may damage it.

  • chemicals, viruses, and ionizing radiation can all cause damage to DNA
  • oxidation, nitrosylation, and alkylation of the DNA heterocyclic base
  • phosphodiester linkage break
  • 10 4 – 10 5 events per cell per day

Cells detect damage to DNA and attempt repairs

  • DNA damage response (DDR) can be:
    • nucleotide excision repair (NER)
    • base excision repair (BER), and
    • non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)

Therapeutics that deliberately cause DNA damage

  1. Alkylating agents
  2. Coordinating metals

  3. Intercalators

    MDCM790 Home page