DNA Damage Induced by Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract

It has been known for more than a hundred years that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can have adverse effects on the growth and development of living organisms. Degradation of stratospheric ozone and the resultant increase in UVB radiation at the earth's surface has focused our attention on the public health and environmental effects of solar DNA damage. With the advent and advancement of molecular biology over the past three decades, our understanding of the biochemical foundation of the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects of UVR has greatly increased. Armed with an arsenal of powerful techniques, today's researchers are able to probe the intricate structure of UVR damage induction and repair in DNA. Indeed, recent advances in deciphering DNA repair in bacteria, yeast, and humans have greatly increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this complex and essential process. In concert with public awareness and political action, the adverse effects of global stratospheric deozonation can be mitigated by the development and application of basic photobiological research. Keywords: Dimerization; Endonuclease; Nucleotide Excision Repair; Photohydrate; Photoenzymatic Repair (PER); Photoproduct; Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS); Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR); Xeroderma Pigmentosum