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Definition: What is DNA damage response?

The DDR involves a series of coordinated events that detect, signal, and repair DNA damage. When DNA is damaged by various factors such as radiation, chemicals, or errors during replication, specific proteins and enzymes are activated to initiate the DDR.

The DDR can be divided into three main phases: detection, signaling, and repair. During the detection phase, specialized proteins recognize and bind to the damaged DNA. These proteins act as sensors and signal the presence of DNA damage to the cell.

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In the signaling phase, the activated sensors transmit signals to other proteins and enzymes, triggering a cascade of events that amplify the signal and activate downstream effectors. These effectors coordinate the cellular response to DNA damage, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or programmed cell death (apoptosis).

The repair phase involves the actual restoration of the damaged DNA. Different types of DNA damage, such as single-strand breaks, double-strand breaks, or base modifications, are repaired by specific repair pathways. These pathways include mechanisms such as base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, homologous recombination, and non-homologous end joining.

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The DDR is tightly regulated to ensure efficient and accurate repair of DNA damage. Dysregulation of the DDR can lead to genomic instability and increased susceptibility to diseases, particularly cancer. Understanding the mechanisms and regulation of the DDR is essential for developing strategies to prevent and treat DNA damage-related diseases.

Keywords: damage, repair, response, proteins, activated, diseases, signal, damaged, cellular