Role of mouse rad21 and rec8 genes in recombination and ionising radiation response

我们已经创造了一个小鼠品系，并正在创造第二个缺乏两个特定基因Mrec8和Mrad21的小鼠品系。这些基因在哺乳动物中扮演着多种角色。这些作用包括充当粘合剂，将染色体连接在一起，并允许单独的DNA分子之间的DNA交换。后者在生理过程中很重要，如减数分裂期间的遗传交换，但也在细胞对DNA损伤的反应中，特别是DNA螺旋的两条链断裂。在这里提出的研究中，我们将把这些小鼠相互饲养，并与其他具有特定的、单基因缺陷的小鼠进行饲养，这些缺陷会导致对DNA链断裂的异常反应。我们将评估不同基因对动物以及动物细胞对DNA链断裂剂的反应的影响。这些实验有望阐明DNA修复缺陷对细胞和动物稳定性的影响，并可能提供最终使癌症患者受益的信息，特别是那些接受放射治疗的患者。

We have created a line of mice and are creating a second mouse line which lack two specific genes known as Mrec8 and Mrad21. These genes have a number of roles in mammals. These roles include acting as a glue to hold chromosomes together and allowing exchange of DNA between separate DNA molecules. The latter is important in physiological processes such as genetic exchange during meiosis, but also in the response of the cell to DNA damage, specifically, breakages in both strands of the DNA helix. In the studies proposed here, we will breed these mice both with each other and with other mice that have specific, single gene defects which lead to abnormal responses to DNA strand breakages. We shall assess the effects of the different genes on response to DNA strand breaking agents in the animals, as well as in cells which have been derived from the animals. These experiments are expected to shed light onto the consequences of defects in DNA repair for the stability of cells and animals, and may provide information which ultimately benefits cancer patients, especially those having radiotherapy.