Molecular Mechanisms in DNA and RNA Damage and Repair

Dear Colleagues,

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated through normal intracellular metabolism and function as physiological signaling species. Some of these reactive species are known for their reactivity and ability to cause DNA and RNA damage. These damages may also be induced by other environmentally derived insults such as ionizing radiation, UV light, and chemical mutagens. DNA damage may challenge the repair machinery of the cell. Indeed, enzymatic systems such as base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), and mismatch repair (MMR) are known to remove the majority of DNA lesions and safeguard the integrity of the genome. Recent studies have demonstrated that BER enzymes and translesion DNA polymerases can also process RNA, suggesting that a novel mechanism of repairing RNA damage by DNA repair may exist. However, DNA and RNA lesions may accumulate in cells and tissues, mainly due to the progressive loss of protective systems and consequent poor repair, as they occur in the aging process. Thus, it is important to understand the intracellular handling of these chemically modified biopolymers. Also, repair enzymatic deficiencies can give rise to the accumulation of damage to cellular components that are linked to specific pathologies. The identification of underlying molecular mechanisms of oxidative DNA and RNA damage and their repair will lead to the development of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for disease diagnostics and treatments.

This Special Issue covers various aspects of DNA and RNA damage and repair research: DNA and RNA oxidation products, molecular mechanisms, biomarker identification, defense and repair strategies, and therapeutic strategies for diseases associated with oxidative DNA and RNA damage. 

Research articles and reviews related to these topics are welcome.

Dr. Marino J. E. Resendiz
Prof. Dr. Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu
Dr. Yuan Liu
Guest Editors

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