RNA repair--the latest addition to the toolbox for macromolecular maintenance

RNA Biol. 2005 Jan;2(1):14-6. doi: 10.4161/rna.2.1.1602. Epub 2005 Jan 21.

Abstract

All organisms must keep their DNA intact and free of lesions to obtain faithful transmission of genetic information, and many cellular proteins are involved in genome maintenance. However, also other macromolecules may be subject to repair. Deleterious lesions in proteins can be reversed by several mechanisms, and this appears to be particularly important in cell types where protein turnover is low. In addition, recent studies indicate that RNA is also repaired. AlkB proteins, which were initially found to repair chemically alkylated DNA, can also remove alkyl lesions from RNA, and, moreover, provide functional reactivation of damaged tRNA and mRNA. Here, recent findings on RNA repair are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • AlkB Homolog 1, Histone H2a Dioxygenase
  • Alkylating Agents / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / physiology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • RNA Ligase (ATP) / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • AlkB protein, E coli
  • ALKBH1 protein, human
  • AlkB Homolog 1, Histone H2a Dioxygenase
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • RNA Ligase (ATP)