The DNA of all cells is continually under assault from a wide range of DNA-damaging agents. To counter this threat to their genetic integrity, cells possess systems, collectively known as the DDR (DNA-damage response), to detect DNA damage, signal its presence and mediate its repair. In the present article, I provide an overview of the DDR and then describe how work in my laboratory and elsewhe...

Background: Varicocele occurs in approximately 15 to 20% of the general male population and it is the most common cause of poor semen production and decreased semen quality. It has been demonstrated that patients with varicocele have a significantly higher DNA damage and spermatozoa with nuclear anomalies than healthy men. Previously it was documented that antioxidant therapy or varicocelectomy...

Background: DNA damage in male germ cells due to exposure to environmental and manmade physico-chemical genotoxic agents is considered as the main cause of male infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined modalities (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) routinely used for cancer treatment on mouse sperm chromatin in vivo. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight mice were div...

Accumulation of gene changes and chromosomal instability in response to cellular DNA damage lead to cancer. DNA damage induces cell cycle checkpoints pathways. Checkpoints regulate DNA replication and cell cycle progression, chromatin restructuring, and apoptosis. Checkpoint kinase 2 (chk2) is activated in response to DNA lesions. ATM phosphorylate chk2. The activated Chk2 kinase can phosphoryl...

The ability of natural zeolite (Clinoptilolite) to remove copper from aqueous ecosystem was studied in real and laboratory conditions. Fresh water mussels (Anodonta Cygnea) of different sizes were Exposed to copper (150, 350, 450 µgl-1) for 10 days. Copper exposure induced DNA damage in the haemolymph cells of Anodonta of all sizes. In connection with real samples, the amount of damage and even...