AI Article Synopsis
- Eukaryotic genomes have unique repetitive elements, like human ribosomal DNA (rDNA), which can disrupt DNA replication and lead to genomic instability.
- The review focuses on how rDNA instability contributes to cellular aging (senescence) and emphasizes the important role of helicases in mitigating its negative effects.
- Additionally, the formation of G-quadruplexes (G4) from guanine-rich rDNA may be linked to disease, and targeting these structures could be a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
Article Abstract
Unique repetitive elements of the eukaryotic genome can be problematic for cellular DNA replication and transcription and pose a source of genomic instability. Human ribosomal DNA (rDNA) exists as repeating units clustered together on several chromosomes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms whereby rDNA interferes with normal genome homeostasis is the subject of this review. We discuss the instability of rDNA as a driver of senescence and the important roles of helicases to suppress its deleterious effects. The propensity of rDNA that is rich in guanine bases to form G-quadruplexes (G4) is discussed and evaluated in disease pathogenesis. Targeting G4 in the ribosomes and other chromosomal loci may represent a useful synthetic lethal approach to combating cancer.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455414 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000516394 | DOI Listing |
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