Impact of inorganic nutrients on maintenance of genomic stability

Abstract

Maintenance of genome stability is of fundamental importance for counteracting carcinogenesis. Many human genome instability syndromes exhibit a predisposition to cancer. An increasing body of epidemiological evidence has suggested a link between nutrient status and risk of cancer. Like other chemicals, nutrients can be toxic when consumed in excess. It has become clear that both nutritional deficiency and toxicity can compromise the integrity of the genome. This article focuses on roles of inorganic trace nutrients, including selenium, copper, zinc, and iron, in the redox regulation of genome stability and how they relate to the pathologies of genomic instability syndromes and cancer.

Chromium and genomic stability

“…In recent years, trace elements have become of significant interest in the prevention of cancer and are thought to have a significant role in the maintenance of the genome [3–6]. Trace elements, those in which less than 100 mg is required daily [6], can have major impacts on the genome when present in excess or when deficient.…”

Selenium Compounds Activate Early Barriers of Tumorigenesis

“…Available evidence from the literature has not provided a full understanding of selenium in tumorigenesis or the linkage of selenium metabolites to genomic maintenance (17). It is known that selenium-induced oxidative stress or DNA damage can * This work was supported in part by an award from the General Research lead to apoptosis in some cancer cells (18); however, the roles of selenium in cellular senescence have not been studied.…”

Chemical Carcinogenesis: Risk Factors, Early Detection and Biomedical Engineering

“…Owing to the fact that micronutrient deficiencies can induce DNA damage in a manner similar to those induced by ionizing radiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS), it has been suggested that oxidative stress and the associated DNA breaks are critical targets for nutritional control of carcinogenesis (Cheng, 2009) and perhaps a marker for early detection. When DNA lesions are left unrepaired they can promote accumulation of mutations that facilitate the process of carcinogenesis.…”

“…Zinc which plays a role in all the phases of cell cycle when deficient can be critical. (Anetor et al, 2008) Cells with defective DNA damage responses are characterized by high level of genome instability (Cheng, 2009). It is known that in particular, cells in s-phase are vulnerable to agents, such as chemicals in the environment that cause DNA damage and induce DNA replication fork arrest.…”