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The DNA-damage response in human biology and disease

Nature volume 461, pages 1071–1078 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The prime objective for every life form is to deliver its genetic material, intact and unchanged, to the next generation. This must be achieved despite constant assaults by endogenous and environmental agents on the DNA. To counter this threat, life has evolved several systems to detect DNA damage, signal its presence and mediate its repair. Such responses, which have an impact on a wide range of cellular events, are biologically significant because they prevent diverse human diseases. Our improving understanding of DNA-damage responses is providing new avenues for disease management.

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Figure 1: Model for the DDR.
Figure 2: Exploitation of DDR pathways to enhance therapeutic responses.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Polo and P. Huertas for advice, and K. Dry for expert help with the text and figures. The S.P.J. laboratory is supported by grants from Cancer Research UK, the European Commission (projects GENICA and DNA Repair), the Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The J.B. laboratory is supported by grants from the Danish Cancer Society, the Danish National Research Foundation and the European Commission (projects GENICA, Active p53, TRIREME and DNA Repair).

Author Contributions S.P.J. and J.B. conceived of and wrote all aspects of this article.

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  1. The Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK,

    Stephen P. Jackson

  2. Danish Cancer Society, Centre for Genotoxic Stress Research, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, and Institute of Molecular Genetics, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic

    Jiri Bartek

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Correspondence to Stephen P. Jackson.

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Jackson, S., Bartek, J. The DNA-damage response in human biology and disease. Nature 461, 1071–1078 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08467

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