DNA Damage

Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.

Year introduced: 1987

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Tree Number(s): G05.200

MeSH Unique ID: D004249

Entry Terms:

• DNA Lesions
• DNA Lesion
• Injury, DNA
• DNA Injuries
• DNA Injury
• Genotoxic Stress
• Stress, Genotoxic

Previous Indexing:

• DNA (1966-1986)
• DNA Repair (1971-1986)
• DNA Replication (1968-1986)

See Also:

• Mutation

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Genetic Phenomena
DNA Damage
Base Pair Mismatch
DNA Adducts
DNA Breaks
Chromosome Breakage
DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded
DNA Degradation, Necrotic
DNA Fragmentation
Pyrimidine Dimers