Base Excision Repair, a Pathway Regulated by Posttranslational Modifications

Abstract

Base excision repair (BER) is an essential DNA repair pathway involved in the maintenance of genome stability, and thus in the prevention of human diseases, such as premature aging, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, SUMOylation and ubiquitylation, have emerged as important contributors in controlling cellular BER protein levels, enzymatic activities, protein-protein interactions and protein cellular localisation. These PTMs therefore play key roles in regulating the BER pathway, and are consequently crucial for co-ordinating an efficient cellular DNA damage response. In this review, we summarise the presently available data on characterised PTMs of key BER proteins, and the functional consequences of these modifications at the protein level, but also the impact on BER in vitro and in vivo.