Open AccessDeoxyuracil in DNA in health and disease
Author(s) -
Joydeep Chakraborty,
Patrick J. Stover
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1473-6519
pISSN - 1363-1950
DOI - 10.1097/mco.0000000000000660
Subject(s) - genome instability , uracil , biology , dna damage , dna repair , dna , genome , genetics , gene
Genome instability has long been implicated as a primary causal factor in cancer and diseases of aging. The genome is constantly under attack from extrinsic and intrinsic damaging agents. Uracil misincorporation in DNA and its repair is an intrinsic factor resulting in genomic instability and DNA mutations. Additionally, the presence of uracil in DNA can modify gene expression by interfering with promoter binding and transcription inhibition or upregulation of apoptotic proteins. In immune cells, uracil in DNA drives beneficial genomic diversity for antigen-driven immunity. This review addresses diseases that are linked to uracil accumulation in DNA, its causes, consequences, and the associated biomarkers of risk factors.