National Natural Science Foundation Hotspot - DNA Damage Repair
Hey, everyone! Let's talk about a super cool topic today—DNA damage repair. Sounds complicated? Don't worry, I'll explain this amazing "emergency system" in our cells.
01. What is DNA Damage Repair?
Our DNA is the treasure trove of genetic information, but it's actually quite "fragile." It can be damaged by ultraviolet rays, radiation, chemical substances, and even metabolic by-products within the cell. If DNA damage is not repaired in time, it can lead to abnormal cell function and even cancer.
Fortunately, our cells have a powerful "emergency system"—the DNA damage repair mechanism. It acts like a "repair worker" in the cell, quickly identifying and fixing DNA damage to maintain genomic stability.
02. Several Important DNA Damage Repair Mechanisms
Base Excision Repair (BER): Repairs small, non-distorting DNA helix damage, such as oxidized bases.
Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER): Targets large, distorting DNA helix damage, such as pyrimidine dimers caused by ultraviolet light.
Double-Strand Break Repair (DSB): This is the most severe type of DNA damage. Cells have two repair methods: Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homologous Recombination (HR). The former is fast but prone to errors, while the latter is more precise.
03. Why is DNA Damage Repair So Important?
Cancer Prevention: Repair mechanisms prevent the accumulation of gene mutations and reduce the risk of cancer.
Impact on Cancer Treatment: Defects in certain repair pathways can affect the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin.
Maintaining Cell Health: Repair mechanisms also help cells cope with daily oxidative stress and delay aging.
04. Latest Research Findings
A team from Peking University led by Wei Wensheng discovered a new DNA repair factor, C17orf53. Mutations in this factor can enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy drugs.
A team from Sun Yat-sen University discovered a new protein called NUMEN, which regulates the repair pathway for double-strand breaks and is of great significance for cancer treatment.
05. How to Protect DNA?
Sunscreen: Ultraviolet rays are a major enemy of DNA. Remember to apply sunscreen when going out.
Antioxidant Foods: Eat more foods rich in vitamins C and E, and selenium to help cells resist oxidative damage.
Healthy Lifestyle: Minimize exposure to harmful chemicals and maintain a good routine.
Isn't the "emergency system" in our cells amazing? Next time you see sunscreen, remember that it's also a little helper for protecting DNA! If you want to learn more, follow me and explore the mysteries of science together.
References: Sanju Tamang. "DNA Damage and DNA Repair: Types and Mechanism" Microbe Notes (2023)
EnkiLife DNA Damage Repair-Related Targets
