DNA has limited chemical stability, despite being the carrier of genetic information; its structure is continuously challenged by several alterations, due to exposure to endogenous and exogenous agents. These alterations are called lesions because they affect the normal functioning of the macromolecule and must be removed to avoid the generation of mutations and cell death. Base Excision Repair (BER) is one of the best-characterized DNA repair pathways in animals and microbes. This multistep pathway is initiated by enzymes called DNA glycosylases, which recognize the damaged base and catalyze the cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond between the damaged base and the sugar phosphate backbone. One of our research interests is to characterise the Base Excision Repair pathway in plants.
© Epigenetics and DNA Repair - University of Cordoba