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Cells are constantly under threat from the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of DNA damaging agents. These agents can either be exogenous or formed within cells. Environmental DNA-damaging agents include UV light and ionizing radiation, as well as a variety of chemicals encountered in foodstuffs, or as air- and water-borne agents. Endogenous damaging agents include methylating species and the reactive oxygen species that arise during respiration. Although diverse responses are elicited in cells following DNA damage, this review focuses on three aspects: DNA repair mechanisms, cell cycle checkpoints, and apoptosis. Because the areas of nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair have been covered extensively in recent reviews, we restrict our coverage of the DNA repair field to base excision repair and DNA double-strand break repair.

Original publication

DOI

10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.41.1.367

Type

Journal article

Journal

Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol

Publication Date

2001

Volume

41

Pages

367 - 401

Keywords

Animals, Cell Cycle, Cell Death, DNA, DNA Damage, DNA Repair, Humans