Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Diseases

Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Diseases

Various endogenous and environmental factors can cause mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage.  One of the reasons for enhanced mtDNA damage could be its proximity to the source of oxidants, and lack of histone-like protective proteins. Moreover, mitochondria contain inadequate DNA repair pathways, and, diminished DNA repair capacity may be one of the factors responsible for high mutation frequency o...

Mitochondrial DNA damage and atherosclerosis.

Mitochondria are often regarded as the cellular powerhouses through their ability to generate ATP, the universal fuel for metabolic processes. However, in recent years mitochondria have been recognised as critical regulators of cell death, inflammation, metabolism, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction directly promotes cell death, inflammation, an...

DNA Damage, Repair, and Diseases

DNA is the essential carrier of genetic information in all living cells. How is the huge amount of DNA in organisms from bacteria to humans maintained and protected from the ravages of noxious agents in the environment? The chemical stability of the DNA molecule is not unusually great, DNA undergoes several types of spontaneous modifications, and it can also react with many physical and chemica...

Mitochondrial DNA repair and damage tolerance.

The accurate maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is required in order for eukaryotic cells to assemble a functional electron transport chain. This independently-maintained genome relies on nuclear-encoded proteins that are imported into the mitochondria to carry out replication and repair processes. Decades of research has made clear that mitochondria employ robust and varied mtDNA repair ...

Radiation track and DNA damage