DNA Repair Protocols: Prokaryotic Systems (Methods in Molecular Biology, 152)

When setting out to decide on the content of DNA Repair Protocols: Prokaryotic Systems, I was conscious of the need to portray the vast array of pathways and enzymatic activities that are part of the discipline of DNA repair. In addition to the classical DNA repair activities, I wanted to convey the significant interest that has been generated in recent years in the use of the proteins and repair systems as research tools, much like the use of restriction enzymes over the last few decades. Therefore, in addition to chapters deta- ing protocols for investigating specific repair activities, I have included s- eral chapters in this book on the applied use of DNA repair proteins and systems. The many years of research on bacterial DNA repair systems have allowed us to really understand the majority of DNA repair pathways in bac- rial cells. Building on this knowledge, research has lead to major advances in understanding mammalian DNA repair and uncovered its links to human d- ease, such as DNA mismatch repair and colon cancer, nucleotide excision repair and xeroderma pigmentosum, DNA helicase function in Bloom’s s- drome, and so on. Such have been the advances that Science magazine iden- fied the collective DNA repair systems as its “Molecule of the Year” in 1994.

DNA repair has assumed a new importance with the discovery that malfunctioning of the DNA repair pathways in humans can lead to many disease states. In DNA Repair Protocols: Prokaryotic Systems, well-versed investigators describe in step-by-step detail a wide range of DNA repair activities, from single act-alone repair proteins to complex repair systems. These practical protocols not only detail the various repair activities found in cells, but also demonstrate the use of DNA repair proteins and systems as reagents in molecular biology and biotechnology. The techniques described here include mutation and polymorphism detection, which are useful in the search for disease genes and drug response genes, as well as for breeding and trait selection in animals and plants. Each readily reproducible protocol is presented by a hands-on expert in sufficient detail to ensure robust experimental results and is supplemented by chapter introductions, as well as notes offering a wealth of interesting and useful information.
Compact and highly practical, DNA Repair Protocols: Prokaryotic Systems provides expert guidance to both the DNA repair researcher studying the fundamental aspects of DNA repair and the applied researcher in human genetics and biotechnology.