Cell Science at a Glance 515 DNA repair with its consequences (e.g. tolerance and pathways each require a number of apoptosis) as well as direct correction of proteins. By contrast, O-alkylated bases, Oliver Fleck* and Olaf Nielsen* the damage by DNA repair mechanisms, such as O6-methylguanine can be Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular which may require activation of repaired by the action of a single protein, Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster checkpoint pathways. There are various O6-methylguanine-DNA Farimagsgade 2A, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark forms of DNA damage, such as base methyltransferase (MGMT). MGMT *Authors for correspondence (e-mail: modifications, strand breaks, crosslinks removes the alkyl group in a suicide fl
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[email protected]) and mismatches. There are also reaction by transfer to one of its cysteine numerous DNA repair pathways. Each residues. Photolyases are able to split Journal of Cell Science 117, 515-517 repair pathway is directed to specific Published by The Company of Biologists 2004 covalent bonds of pyrimidine dimers doi:10.1242/jcs.00952 types of damage, and a given type of produced by UV radiation. They bind to damage can be targeted by several a UV lesion in a light-independent Organisms are permanently exposed to pathways. Major DNA repair pathways process, but require light (350-450 nm) endogenous and exogenous agents that are mismatch repair (MMR), nucleotide as an energy source for repair. Another damage DNA. If not repaired, such excision repair (NER), base excision NER-independent pathway that can damage can result in mutations, diseases repair (BER), homologous recombi- remove UV-induced damage, UVER, is and cell death.