Ribonucleotides in DNA: origins, repair and consequences

Jessica S Williams; Thomas A Kunkel

doi:10.1016/j.dnarep.2014.03.029

Ribonucleotides in DNA: origins, repair and consequences

DNA Repair (Amst). 2014 Jul:19:27-37. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2014.03.029. Epub 2014 Apr 30.

Authors

Jessica S Williams¹, Thomas A Kunkel²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States.
² Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States. Electronic address: kunkel@niehs.nih.gov.

Abstract

While primordial life is thought to have been RNA-based (Cech, Cold Spring Harbor Perspect. Biol. 4 (2012) a006742), all living organisms store genetic information in DNA, which is chemically more stable. Distinctions between the RNA and DNA worlds and our views of "DNA" synthesis continue to evolve as new details emerge on the incorporation, repair and biological effects of ribonucleotides in DNA genomes of organisms from bacteria through humans.

Keywords: DNA polymerase; DNA repair; DNA replication; Genome instability; Ribonucleotides.

Published by Elsevier B.V.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics
DNA / genetics
DNA Repair / genetics*
DNA Replication
Genomic Instability
Humans
RNA / genetics*
Ribonuclease H / genetics*
Ribonuclease H / metabolism
Ribonucleotides / genetics*
Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics

Substances

Ribonucleotides
RNA
DNA
Ribonuclease H

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding