NEW YORK: “Early detection and repair of damaged DNA is essential for cell functioning and survival,” concludes a study by a Russian research team titled, “Structure of transcribed chromatin is a sensor of DNA damage.”
The study raises the question of single-strand breaks (SSBs) which are referred to as “common DNA damages generated during various processes of cell metabolism.”
According to the study, “Unrepaired SSBs can interfere with transcription, replication, and DNA repair; induce accumulation of double-stranded DNA breaks; increase genomic instability and apoptosis [process of programd cell death]; and lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases.”