Base Excision Repair: A Review

Abstract

Base excision repair (BER) is a fundamental DNA repair pathway essential for maintaining the genomic integrity of all living organisms. This paper provides an overview of the mechanisms, key players, and regulatory aspects of the base excision repair pathway. BER serves as the primary defense against spontaneous DNA damage arising from endogenous and exogenous sources, including oxidative stress, deamination, and alkylation. This repair process involves a sequential series of enzymatic reactions orchestrated by various proteins, including DNA glycosylases, AP endonucleases, DNA polymerases, and DNA ligases.