Background: DNA repair mechanisms are crucial for sustaining DNA integrity and preventing carcinogenesis. The xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG), X-ray repair cross complementing group 2 (XRCC2) and RAD51 are candidate genes for DNA repair pathways. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of 26 studies that assessed the impact of XPG Asp1104His, XRCC2 rs3218536 A/G and RAD51 135G/C polymorphisms...

The X-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1) protein is required for viability and efficient repair of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) in rodents. XRCC1-deficient mouse or hamster cells are hypersensitive to DNA damaging agents generating SSBs and display genetic instability after such DNA damage. The presence of certain polymorphisms in the human XRCC1 gene has been associated with altered c...

OBJECTIVE The risk of stroke caused by dislodgment of loose atheromatous plaque or mural emboli is increased by cross-clamping of the aorta. Some patients undergo descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with proximal aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of proximal aortic cross-...

In gliomas, germline gene alterations play a significant role during malignant transformation of progenitor glial cells, at least for families with occurrence of multiple cancers or with specific hereditary cancer syndromes. Scientific evidence during the last few years has revealed several constitutive genetic abnormalities that may influence glioma formation. These germline abnormalities are ...

The DNA repair gene X-ray cross-complementing group 4 (XRCC4), a member of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair system, plays a major role in the repair of the double-strand breaks of the DNA sequence. This gene is critical to the maintenance of overall genome stability, and is also thought to play a key role in human carcinogenesis. In this case-control study, several novel polymorphic...

BACKGROUND Occupational exposure and life style preferences, such as smoking are the main known environmental susceptibility factors for bladder cancer. A growing list of chemicals has been shown to induce oxidative DNA damage. Base excision repair (BER) genes (X-ray repair cross complementing 1, XRCC1 and human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1, OGG1) may play a key role in maintaining genome int...

X-ray repair cross-complementing protein-1 (XRCC1)-deficient cells are sensitive to DNA damaging agents and have delayed processing of DNA base lesions. In support of its role in base excision repair, it was found that XRCC1 forms a tight complex with DNA ligase IIIalpha and also interacts with DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) and other base excision repair (BER) proteins. We have isolated wild-t...

Transcription-coupled DNA repair targets DNA lesions that block progression of elongating RNA polymerases. In bacteria, the transcription-repair coupling factor (TRCF; also known as Mfd) SF2 ATPase recognizes RNA polymerase stalled at a site of DNA damage, removes the enzyme from the DNA, and recruits the Uvr(A)BC nucleotide excision repair machinery via UvrA binding. Previous studies of TRCF r...

The repair of lesions and gaps in DNA follows different pathways, each mediated by specific proteins and complexes. Post-translational modifications in many of these proteins govern their activities and interactions, ultimately determining whether a particular pathway is followed. Prominent among these modifications are the addition of phosphate or ubiquitin (and ubiquitin-like) moieties that c...

Previously, we have demonstrated that human oxidative DNA glycosylase NEIL1 excises photoactivated psoralen-induced monoadducts but not genuine interstrand cross-links (ICLs) in duplex DNA. It has been postulated that the repair of ICLs in mammalian cells is mainly linked to DNA replication and proceeds via dual incisions in one DNA strand that bracket the cross-linked site. This process, known...