Assays to Determine DNA Repair Ability

Abstract

DNA repair is crucial to the integrity of the human genome since mammalian cells are continuously exposed to different chemical and physical genotoxic agents. To counteract the lesions induced by these agents, organisms have developed a number of highly conserved repair mechanisms involving numerous protein complexes grouped in several different repair pathways. The importance of studying the individual capacity to repair DNA damage lies in the observation that deficient repair mechanisms of the genome have been linked to the presence of large number of diseases and cancer, and alterations in these mechanisms may also alter the susceptibility of individuals exposed to a particular mutagen. This review focused on the current knowledge of different assays developed to evaluate DNA repair capacity (DRC). These assays, which are grouped into five major categories, have been successfully applied in (1) in vitro studies, (2) epidemiological studies in patients with cancer or other different pathologies, and (3) environmentally or occupationally exposed populations. Nevertheless, some of the limitations include high interlaboratory variability and difficulty to implement the assays on a large scale. The selection of an adequate DRC assay needs to be made on the basis of the objective raised for its application and taking into account a number of determining factors, namely, (1) speed and cost, (2) type of DNA repair to be evaluated, and (3) sample availability.

Okadaic Acid: More than a Diarrheic Toxin

“…The DNA repair system has been recognized as one of the most important cellular defense mechanisms responsible for the integrity of DNA. Decreased DNA repair ability is exhibited in various clinical conditions and associated with increased frequency of carcinogenesis, since unrepaired mistakes lead to an accumulation of aberrations in the genome that culminate in the genetic instability typical of many malignancies and other pathologies [ 130 ]. A limited number of previous studies were performed in order to determine the possible interference of OA with DNA repair mechanisms.…”

Exploring Genetic Outcomes as Frailty Biomarkers

“…DNA repair is one of the most important mechanisms to maintain genome integrity. Consequently, deficiencies in this process are often considered one of the key processes in the development of diseases such as cancer and other age-related pathologies (19). Indeed, it was previously suggested that one of the possible causes or events involved in frailty syndrome is the alteration of the cellular repair mechanisms that would result in the accumulation of genetic damage (9,10).…”

Oxidative stress, genomic features and DNA repair in frail elderly: A systematic review

“…The DNA repair system has been recognized as one of the most important cellular defense mechanisms responsible for the integrity of DNA. Decreased DNA repair ability is exhibited in vari-ous clinical conditions and associated with increased frequency of carcinogenesis, since inefficient repair leads to an accumulation of aberrations in the genome that culminate in the genetic instability typical of many malignancies and other pathologies (Valdiglesias et al, 2011).…”