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DNA Repair definitions

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  • DNA Proofreading
    Correction of mispaired bases during replication by removing incorrect nucleotides and restoring proper base pairing.
  • Base Excision Repair
    Removal and replacement of damaged bases using glycosylases, followed by gap filling and sealing by polymerase and ligase.
  • DNA Glycosylase
    Enzyme that recognizes and removes damaged bases from the DNA backbone, initiating base excision repair.
  • Nucleotide Excision Repair
    Repair of helix-distorting lesions by excising a DNA segment, then filling and sealing the gap to restore structure.
  • Global Genome Repair
    Pathway of nucleotide excision repair that targets lesions anywhere in the genome, regardless of transcriptional activity.
  • Transcription-Coupled Repair
    Specialized nucleotide excision repair focused on actively transcribed DNA regions to quickly resolve transcription-blocking lesions.
  • Mismatch Repair
    Correction of insertion or deletion errors post-replication by distinguishing new DNA strands via methylation status.
  • Methylation
    Chemical modification marking the original DNA strand, allowing repair systems to identify newly synthesized DNA.
  • Translesion Synthesis
    Error-prone DNA replication across damaged regions using specialized polymerases lacking proofreading ability.
  • Double-Strand Break
    Severe DNA damage involving breaks in both strands, requiring specialized repair mechanisms to restore integrity.
  • Non-Homologous End Joining
    Repair of double-strand breaks by directly joining broken DNA ends, often resulting in loss of genetic information.
  • Homologous Recombination
    Accurate repair of double-strand breaks using a sister chromatid as a template, restoring lost genetic material.
  • Sister Chromatid
    Identical DNA copy produced during replication, serving as a template for homologous recombination repair.
  • DNA Ligase
    Enzyme that seals nicks in the DNA backbone, completing the repair process after gap filling.
  • Bypass Polymerase
    Specialized enzyme capable of synthesizing DNA across damaged regions but with high error rates and no proofreading.