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Encyclopedia of Cancer pp 1–4Cite as

DNA Oxidation Damage

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Definition

Represents free radical damage to DNA. Oxidation essentially involves the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen atoms from a molecule. Oxidation of DNA may simply result in a small change to one of the bases, or a deoxyribose in the backbone of the molecule may be altered to such an extent that the continuity of the backbone is broken. Single-strand breaks are more common than double-strand breaks.

Characteristics

DNA is thought of as a very stable molecule and yet it readily undergoes damage, by a variety of agents that can be either endogenous or exogenous in origin. Ionizing radiation (e.g., X-rays), ultraviolet radiation, and various chemicals, including some present in tobacco smoke (tobacco carcinogenesis), cause the release of free radicals, and if DNA is not protected, oxidation can occur. Free radicals (reactive oxygen species) also occur within the cells of the body, arising as a minor product during the cycle of oxidation of carbohydrates in the mitochondria....

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References

  • Collins AR (1999) Oxidative DNA damage, antioxidants, and cancer. BioEssays 21:238–246

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  • Collins AR (2005) Antioxidant intervention as a route to cancer prevention. Eur J Cancer 41:1923–1930

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See Also

  • (2012) Antioxidant. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 216. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_328

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  • (2012) Antioxidant Defenses. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 216. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_330

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  • (2012) GC-MS. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 1515. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_2344

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  • (2012) Knock-Out Mouse. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 1957. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_3239

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  • (2012) Mutation. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 2412. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_3911

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  • (2012) 8-Oxoguanine. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p 2734. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_4313

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Andrew R. Collins

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  1. Andrew R. Collins
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Correspondence to Andrew R. Collins .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Collins, A.R. (2014). DNA Oxidation Damage. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4306-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4306-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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