Oxidative DNA damage: mechanisms, mutation, and disease

Oxidative DNA damage is an inevitable consequence of cellular metabolism, with a propensity for increased levels following toxic insult. Although more than 20 base lesions have been identified, only a fraction of these have received appreciable study, most notably 8-oxo-2'deoxyguanosine. This lesion has been the focus of intense research interest and been ascribed much importance, largely to the detriment of other lesions. The present work reviews the basis for the biological significance of oxidative DNA damage, drawing attention to the multiplicity of proteins with repair activities along with a number of poorly considered effects of damage. Given the plethora of (often contradictory) reports describing…

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  Food Standards Agency