Recent advances in DNA damage repair mechanism

The stability of cell genetic material is influenced by a variety of factors, both internal and external, which can cause various types of DNA damage, such as DNA alkylation, oxidation, mismatching, loop structure, atypical DNA structure, single-strand break, and double-strand break. These DNA damages disrupt cellular homeostasis and dynamic equilibrium, which cause gene mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and even degradation, aging, and death at different biological levels. By searching and identifying DNA damage sites, the cell activates a series of biochemical pathways, coordinates the progress of DNA replication and transcription, and then repairs the DNA damage. In this way, the cell maintains its independence and stability. While radiotherapy plays a role in eliminating tumors by DNA damages, it also initiates DNA damage responses. Among the responses, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair, and post-translesion synthesis repair play a key role in repairing the damages. The dysfunction of these repair pathways will cause differences in tumor radiation sensitivity. This paper summarizes recent research results in DNA damage repair, and focuses on the types of DNA damage and their repair mechanisms, so as to promote the understanding of the great significance of this field and to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the application of DNA damage repair pathways in tumor therapy. Key words: DNA damage repair; Excision repair; Mismatch repair; Double-strand breaks repair; Translesion synthesis