Oxidative Damage to Nucleic Acids

This book provides an up-to-date coverage of selected topics in the area of nucleic acid oxidation. The topics have been selected to cover everything from basic chemical mechanisms, repair of damage and the biological and pathological meaning of DNA oxidation. The chapters are authored by leading, research active, international experts in the respective topics. In addition to some of the traditionally covered topics, we have included some areas that receive less attention in similar volumes, for example chapters focusing on damage to nucleic acids by halogenating and nitrating species, gene-specific damage, telomere shortening and damage to promoter regions. Through this approach, we recognize additionally the importance of nucleic acid damage beyond mutation and in pathological conditions other than carcinogenesis. The primary audience for the book would be research scientists and advanced postgraduate students, the book may also be of interest to clinicians with strong research interests. We would expect readers to come away from this book with a greater appreciation of the topic, particularly appraising the reader of areas that may not necessarily have been covered in such a volume before.

Drs. Mark D. Evans and Marcus S. Cooke are academics at the University of Leicester, U.K. Collectively we have around 30-35 years of research experience in the field of free radical biochemistry, most of it in relation to damage to the genome. Mark did his Bachelor’s degree at Brunel University, Uxbridge, U.K., his PhD at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA and has worked his way through the ranks at The University of Leicester via several postdocs to become a tenured non-clinical lecturer in the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine (CSMM). Marcus did his Bachelor’s degree at John Moore’s University, Liverpool and both his MSc and PhD at University of Leicester. Marcus also worked his way through the ranks to become a tenured non-clinical senior lecturer in CSMM, but also holds a joint appointment in the world renowned Department of Genetics at Leicester, home of DNA fingerprinting. 2003 saw Marcus receive the Young Scientist Prize from the European Environmental Mutagen Society for his work on DNA damage. Our pedigree demonstrates that we are in a prime position to evaluate the cutting edge of research in the field of DNA oxidation and, in acknowledgement of this, the world’s leaders in their respective fields agreed to contribute to the book.