The Role of Homologous Recombination Genes in Dealing with Replication Stress

Luchjenbroers, P.J.H. (2013) The Role of Homologous Recombination Genes in Dealing with Replication Stress. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Every organism needs to duplicate its DNA, in a process called DNA replication. DNA replication is an essential feature of every living organism, since it accounts for sustaining the organism. The replication process needs to be performed very accurately, since faults in replication or DNA damage can lead to mutations and various kinds of diseases, such as cancer. Damage to the DNA will lead to replication stress, which will lead to the slow progression or stalling of replication forks. This in turn can lead to fork degradation and DNA damage, so it is very important that replication stress is repaired accurately and with speed. There are different damaging factors which lead to replication stress such as IR or UV radiation, depleted dNTP pools other damaging agents, or naturally occurring stress such is torsional stress and double-strand DNA breaks. There are various ways in which the cell can deal with replication stress, one of them is homologous recombination, which is performed primarily during double-strand breaks. Homologous recombination makes use of BRCA genes, which are often mutated in heredity breast cancers and ovarian cancers. These genes might also play another role during replication stress although this role is yet poorly understood. This role of BRCA genes could be promising in finding new potential targets for cancer therapy. That is why this review will focus on the role of homologous recombination genes during replication stress and if this is a potential target for future therapy.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 07:56
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 07:56
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/11519

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