Radiation-induced DNA damage and DNA repair

Although DNA undergoes various types of damage from radiation, active oxygen, and the like, a living body has a plurality of DNA repair mechanisms responding to the types of DNA damage. On the other hand, there are a system that results in cell death if the repair is impossible and a mechanism to lead to concretization if further repair is not accurately made. This paper explains the following items as the basic researches on these types of DNA damage and the repair mechanisms: (1) biological effects of DNA damage, (2) effect of DNA damage on DNA synthesis, and (3) effects of DNA damage on cells. It also explains the effects of radiation on cells with a focus on specific mechanism for (1) DNA damage caused by direct action due to radiation and by indirect action due mainly to active oxygen, and (2) DNA repair mechanism that works on DNA double-strand break (DSB). (A.O.)