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Nature Cell Biology 9, 363–365 (1 April 2007) | doi:10.1038/ncb0407-363

The double (strand break) life of Par-3

Susan P. Lees-Miller

DNA-damaging agents (such as ionizing radiation and the topoisomerase II poison etoposide) induce DSBs, a lethal type of DNA lesion that results from cleavage of both strands of the DNA backbone. Although unrepaired DSBs lead to cell death, misrepaired DSBs can cause chromosomal breakage, translocation and genomic instability.