Biomaterial Database

Molecular biology of mutagenesis of mammalian cells by ionizing radiation. 1993

F Hutchinson

Radiobiology Laboratories, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511.

In mammalian cells, ionizing radiation induces comparable numbers of point mutations (principally base changes, frameshifts and small deletions) and of large deletions of more than a hundred base pairs. The latter are formed either by misrepair of an end from one double-strand break with an end from another, or by a second mechanism which, it is suggested, is initiated by slowly repaired single-strand nicks. The ratio of deletions to point mutations is variable from one gene to another, and is greatest for genes in which very large deletions still allow cells to survive.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008967	Molecular Biology	A discipline concerned with studying biological phenomena in terms of the chemical and physical interactions of molecules.	Biochemical Genetics,Biology, Molecular,Genetics, Biochemical,Genetics, Molecular,Molecular Genetics,Biochemical Genetic,Genetic, Biochemical,Genetic, Molecular,Molecular Genetic
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004249	DNA Damage	Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.	DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016296	Mutagenesis	Process of generating a genetic MUTATION. It may occur spontaneously or be induced by MUTAGENS.	Mutageneses
D017354	Point Mutation	A mutation caused by the substitution of one nucleotide for another. This results in the DNA molecule having a change in a single base pair.	Mutation, Point,Mutations, Point,Point Mutations