Abstract
Although solar light is indispensable for the functioning of plants, this environmental factor may also cause damage to living cells. Apart from the visible range, including wavelengths used in photosynthesis, the ultraviolet (UV) light present in solar irradiation reaches the Earth’s surface. The high energy of UV causes damage to many cellular components, with DNA as one of the targets. Putting together the puzzle-like elements responsible for the repair of UV-induced DNA damage is of special importance in understanding how plants ensure the stability of their genomes between generations. In this review, we have presented the information on DNA damage produced under UV with a special focus on the pyrimidine dimers formed between the neighboring pyrimidines in a DNA strand. These dimers are highly mutagenic and cytotoxic, thus their repair is essential for the maintenance of suitable genetic information. In prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, with the exception of placental mammals, this is achieved by means of highly efficient photorepair, dependent on blue/UVA light, which is performed by specialized enzymes known as photolyases. Photolyase properties, as well as their structure, specificity and action mechanism, have been briefly discussed in this paper. Additionally, the main gaps in our knowledge on the functioning of light repair in plant organelles, its regulation and its interaction between different DNA repair systems in plants have been highlighted.
Highlights
About 10% of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the Sun is between 100 and 400 nm [1]
At the Second International Congress on Light in Copenhagen in 1932, William Coblentz suggested that these wavelengths be subdivided into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C
Absorption of UV-A, UV-B, UV-C may cause the formation of Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) (a), which split back by Depending on the conformation of the two adjacent bases at the time of be split back by UV-C (b)
Summary
About 10% of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the Sun is between 100 and 400 nm [1]. Before reaching the uppermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, UV-A, UV-B and UV-C constitute 6.8, 2.4 and 0.8% of the solar radiation energy, respectively [5]. Radiation with the shortest wavelengths, i.e., the highest energy that reaches the Earth’s surface. The role of UV-A in the direct formation pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4 PPs) and double strand breaks (DSBs). Living organisms, especially sessile ones which use solar light as the energy source, had to evolve mechanisms allowing them to deal with UV-induced DNA damage. These mechanisms include a reduction in the UV dose reaching the cell by avoiding UV exposure, the production of UV-absorbing compounds or the repair of damage which could not be avoided
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