Radiation-Induced DNA Damage Signaling and Repair

Ionizing radiation induces a variety of lesions in DNA, of which double-strand breaks (DSBs) are considered the most lethal. Following irradiation, a multicomponent of signal transduction network referred as DNA damage response (DDR) is activated to sense DNA damages, to initiate cell cycle checkpoints, and to provoke repair in the nucleus. DDR is stimulated by cytoplasmic signaling pathways as well. Many malignancies overexpress DDR proteins, which coordinate cell cycle arrest followed by effective DNA repair. Thus, the components of DDR with enzymatic activity may be targeted to selectively inhibit repair of radiation-induced DNA damage in tumor cells, e.g., during radiotherapy.

The scope of this Section would be publishing original reports on the topic of DDR and cellular responses after exposure to ionizing- and nonionizing radiation. 

Keywords: radiobiology; ionizing radiation; nonionizing radiation; DNA damage response; radiotherapy; radioresistance; radiosensitivity; signal transduction; molecular targeting