Mechanisms and functions of DNA mismatch repair

Guo Min Li

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1031 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is a highly conserved biological pathway that plays a key role in maintaining genomic stability. The specificity of MMR is primarily for base-base mismatches and insertion/deletion mispairs generated during DNA replication and recombination. MMR also suppresses homeologous recombination and was recently shown to play a role in DNA damage signaling in eukaryotic cells. Escherichia coli MutS and MutL and their eukaryotic homologs, MutSα and MutLα, respectively, are key players in MMR-associated genome maintenance. Many other protein components that participate in various DNA metabolic pathways, such as PCNA and RPA, are also essential for MMR. Defects in MMR are associated with genome-wide instability, predisposition to certain types of cancer including hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, resistance to certain chemotherapeutic agents, and abnormalities in meiosis and sterility in mammalian systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)85-98
Number of pages14
JournalCell Research
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2008

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Microsatellite instability
  • MutL
  • MutS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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