Mechanism |
Types and pathways and comments |
| 1. Structural organization of the genome |
1. Nuclear genome.
2. Mitochondrial genome |
| 2. Structural features of DNA |
Complementary strand stores genetic information |
| 3. Degeneracy of the genetic code |
Multiple point mutations might occur without affecting synthesized protein |
| 4. Nuclear localization of DNA |
Physical protection of nuclear genome |
| 5. DNA-associated proteins |
1. Physical barriers
2. Biochemical buffers
3. Deactivating biomolecules
4. Modulation of charge transport
5. Limitation of DNA helix distortion |
| 6. Replication proofreading system |
Prophylactic pathway during DNA replication |
| 7. Genetic repair systems |
A. Nuclear DNA repair
1. Base excision repair.
2. Nucleotide excision repair
3. Direct reversal repair.
4. Mismatch repair
5. Recombination repair
B. RNA repair/editing system
Post-transcription repair/editing of some mRNA defects via guide RNA (gRNA)/editosome complex
C. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) repair |
| 8. Protein repair systems |
Correction of post-translation protein misfolding/aggregation by chaperones |
| 9. Silencing of transposons by piwiRNA |
Reduces transposon-induced mutations during development |
| 10. Antioxidant enzyme systems |
|
| 11. Apoptosis |
Prophylactic pathway against spread of mutations of heavily or lethally mutated genomes to daughter cells |
| 12. Melatonin |
Anti-clastogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-oxidant compound. |
