It turns out that DNA damage in neurons is part of the normal functioning of genes

Scientists from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered regions in the DNA of neurons that accumulate

certain type of damage (so-calledsingle-strand breaks, or SBRs). Their accumulation appears to be unique to neurons and challenges conventional wisdom about the cause of DNA damage and its potential consequences for neurodegenerative diseases.

Since neurons for correctfunctioning requires a lot of oxygen, they are exposed to high levels of free radicals. These are toxic compounds that can damage DNA inside cells. Usually such processes happen by accident. However, in this study, neuronal damage was often found in specific areas of DNA - enhancers that control the activity of nearby genes.

Fully mature cells such as neurons are notall their genes need to be active at the same time. One way cells can control gene activity is through the presence or absence of a chemical tag - a methyl group - on a particular building block of DNA. A closer examination of neurons showed that a significant number of single-strand breaks occur when methyl groups are removed, which usually makes this gene available for activation.

The explanation proposed by the researchers isin that the removal of the methyl group from the DNA itself creates an OP. At the same time, neurons have several recovery mechanisms. This casts doubt on the popular belief that DNA damage is a process that must be prevented. On the contrary, at least in neurons, it is part of the normal process of turning genes on and off. In addition, this means that disruption of the repair process, rather than damage to the DNA itself, can potentially lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

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An enhancer is a small piece of DNA that, after binding to it of transcription factors, stimulates transcription from the main promoters of a gene or a group of genes.

Repair is a special function of cells, which consists inin the ability to repair chemical damage and breaks in DNA molecules damaged during normal DNA biosynthesis in a cell or as a result of exposure to physical or chemical reagents. It is carried out by special enzyme systems of the cell.