CYCLOBUTANE PYRIMIDINE DIMERS Meaning and
Definition
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Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) are a type of DNA damage that occurs in living organisms due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Specifically, CPDs are formed when adjacent pyrimidine bases (thymine and cytosine) on the same DNA strand in a double helix form covalent bonds, resulting in the formation of a four-membered cyclobutane ring. This structural alteration disrupts the normal hydrogen bonding pattern within DNA and causes a distortion in the overall DNA helical structure.
CPDs are most commonly generated when DNA is exposed to UVB radiation, which possesses energy sufficient to induce pyrimidine dimerization. They are considered a major type of DNA damage resulting from direct photochemical reactions between UV radiation and DNA molecules. The formation of CPDs can have severe consequences for the integrity and functionality of DNA, as they can impede essential cellular processes such as DNA replication and gene expression. Moreover, if left unrepaired, CPDs can lead to potentially mutagenic changes in the DNA sequence, and accumulate over time as a consequence of chronic UV exposure.
The repair of CPDs is primarily executed by specific DNA repair systems known as nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways, which can detect and remove these lesions from DNA strands. Failure to repair CPDs efficiently can result in increased susceptibility to various health issues, including skin cancer and other detrimental effects associated with excessive UV radiation exposure. Therefore, understanding the formation, repair, and consequences of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers is crucial for both clinical treatments and the prevention of UV-induced damage.
Common Misspellings for CYCLOBUTANE PYRIMIDINE DIMERS
- xyclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- vyclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- fyclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- dyclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- ctclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cgclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- chclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cuclobutane pyrimidine dimers
- c7clobutane pyrimidine dimers
- c6clobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyxlobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyvlobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyflobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cydlobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyckobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cycpobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cycoobutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyclibutane pyrimidine dimers
- cyclkbutane pyrimidine dimers
- cycllbutane pyrimidine dimers
