Checkpoint signaling is a crucial cellular mechanism that ensures DNA integrity by halting cell cycle progression in response to DNA damage or incomplete replication. It involves a series of signaling pathways that activate repair processes or induce apoptosis if the damage is irreparable, thereby maintaining genomic stability.
Repair pathway choice is a crucial cellular decision-making process that determines how DNA damage is addressed, balancing accuracy and speed to maintain genomic integrity. This choice is influenced by factors such as the type of DNA damage, cell cycle stage, and availability of repair proteins, ultimately impacting cellular outcomes like survival, mutation rate, and cancer development.
Repair proteins are crucial components of the cellular machinery responsible for identifying and correcting DNA damage, thereby maintaining genomic stability and preventing diseases such as cancer. These proteins operate through various pathways, including mismatch repair, base excision repair, and nucleotide excision repair, each targeting specific types of DNA damage.
Homologous recombination repair is a critical cellular mechanism that repairs double-strand breaks in DNA by using a homologous sequence as a template, ensuring genomic stability and preventing mutations. This process is essential for maintaining the integrity of the genome, especially during cell division and in response to DNA damage from external sources like radiation or chemicals.