True statement regarding base excision repair is
The question is asking for a true statement about BER. Let's think about the steps involved. BER starts with a DNA glycosylase enzyme that recognizes and removes the damaged base, creating an abasic site. Then, AP endonuclease cleaves the DNA backbone at the abasic site. After that, DNA polymerase fills in the correct nucleotide, and DNA ligase seals the nick. So, the key enzymes here are glycosylases, AP endonuclease, polymerase, and ligase.
Now, let's consider possible answer options. Since the user hasn't provided the actual options, I need to think of common true and false statements about BER. Common distractors might confuse BER with NER, or mention incorrect enzymes. For example, a true statement could be that BER is responsible for repairing single-base damage, unlike NER which deals with larger lesions. Another point is that BER involves glycosylase enzymes specific to different types of base damage.
Let me outline possible options. Suppose the options are:
A. Involves DNA glycosylase to remove the damaged base.
B. Repairs double-strand breaks in DNA.
C. Utilizes the same enzymes as nucleotide excision repair.
D. Requires UV light for activation.
For the correct answer, A is true because glycosylases are indeed the first step in BER. B is incorrect because BER doesn't handle double-strand breaks; that's homologous recombination or non-homologous end joining. C is wrong because NER uses different enzymes, like UvrA in prokaryotes. D is false because BER doesn't require UV light; it's a spontaneous repair process.
The core concept here is understanding the specific role of BER in DNA repair, its enzymes, and how it differs from other repair pathways. The clinical pearl might be remembering that glycosylases are specific to the type of base damage, which is a key point in exams. Also, BER is crucial for maintaining genome stability by fixing common base lesions, preventing mutations. So, the correct answer would be A.
**Core Concept**
Base excision repair (BER) is a DNA repair mechanism that corrects small, non-helix-distorting base lesions (e.g., deaminated, oxidized, or alkylated bases). It is initiated by DNA glycosylases, which recognize and remove damaged bases, followed by AP endonuclease, DNA polymerase, and ligase to complete repair.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct option aligns with BER's hallmark feature: **DNA glycosylases** specifically recognize and cleave the N-glycosidic bond between the damaged base and the sugar-phosphate backbone, creating an abasic (AP) site. This step is unique to BER and distinguishes it from other repair pathways like nucleotide excision repair (NER), which addresses bulky lesions. Following