Abstract
Pyrimidine dimer is an intrastrand DNA cross-link, induced by exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight). Two types of dimers are formed, depending on whether DNA is single-stranded or duplex. Pyrimidine dimers block both DNA replication and transcription and have to be removed to return DNA to its functional state. Multiple DNA repair mechanisms are known to remove pyrimidine dimers and individual organisms usually have at least two different ones. In humans, defects in pyrimidine dimer removal cause disease and cancer.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics |
Subtitle of host publication | Second Edition |
Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
Pages | 538-539 |
Number of pages | 2 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080961569 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123749840 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 27 2013 |
Keywords
- DNA polymerase
- DNA repair
- DNA replication
- Melanoma
- RNA polymerase
- Strand exchange
- Sunlight
- Thymine dimer
- Transcription
- Ultraviolet light
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Medicine