What are the Cellular Responses to Single Strand Breaks?
Cells have evolved sophisticated DNA repair mechanisms to cope with SSBs. The primary pathway involved in SSB repair is the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Key steps in the BER pathway include:
1. Recognition of the SSB by sensors such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). 2. Recruitment of repair proteins to the damage site. 3. Processing of the break ends by enzymes such as DNA ligase and DNA polymerase. 4. Final ligation to restore DNA integrity.
