Formation and Recognition of UV-Induced DNA Damage within Genome Complexity

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a natural genotoxic agent leading to the formation of photolesions endangering the genomic integrity and thereby the survival of living organisms. To prevent the mutagenetic effect of UV, several specific DNA repair mechanisms are mobilized to accurately maintain genome integrity at photodamaged sites within the complexity of genome structures. However, a fundamental gap remains to be filled in the identification and characterization of factors at the nexus of UV-induced DNA damage, DNA repair, and epigenetics. This review brings together the impact of the epigenomic context on the susceptibility of genomic regions to form photodamage and focuses on the mechanisms of photolesions recognition through the different DNA repair pathways.