University Chemistry ›› 2015, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 1-6.doi: 10.3866/pku.DXHX20150601

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A Brief Introduction to 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry:DNA Damage & Repair

Zhu Chenxu1, Song Jinghui1, Yi Chengqi1,2   

  1. 1. School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
    2. College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Published:2015-12-25

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Abstract:

DNA carries the genetic information for living organisms, but is challenged by both endogenous and exogenous stresses all the time. Chemical structures of DNA may be changed by these stresses and hence DNA damage can be produced. DNA damage may be cytotoxic or mutagenic when left unrepaired. Cells possess several pathways to repair DNA damage and maintain the stability of genome. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015 was awarded jointly to Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar "for mechanistic studies of DNA repair". Here we briefly describe the history of DNA repair research and its enormous influence to human health.

Key words: DNA damage, Base excision repair, Nucleotide excision repair, Mismatch repair