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Imaging DNA double-strand breaks — are we there yet?

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (2022)Cite this article

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DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are fundamental to cell biology, from evolution to the latest gene-editing technologies. Yet, does an assay exist that truly quantitatively visualizes DSBs? Over-reliance on DSB detection by proxies can misguide interpretation of conventional assays, and more faithful DSB representatives await development.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can arise spontaneously from nuclease activities or through insults from reactive species, radiation and cytotoxic agents. DSBs are the most deleterious form of DNA damage, causing genome instability and chromosomal aberrations; DSB repair responses are thus rapid and stringently regulated1. By contrast, prescribed cleavage of DNA at targeted loci facilitates gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR–Cas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

    Jake Atkinson & Ivan Kempson

  2. Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

    Eva Bezak

  3. Department of Physics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Eva Bezak

Authors
  1. Jake Atkinson
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  2. Eva Bezak
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  3. Ivan Kempson
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Correspondence to Ivan Kempson.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Atkinson, J., Bezak, E. & Kempson, I. Imaging DNA double-strand breaks — are we there yet?. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-022-00513-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-022-00513-7

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