6-4 photoproduct

Introduction

UV light forms different types of DNA damage. The most common lesions are cyclobutane dimers formed from photocyclization of adjacent pyrimidines. 6-4 photoproducts are the 2nd most common UV photoproduct & occur at 5'T-C 3', 5'C-C 3', 5'T-T 3', but not 5'C-T 3' sites in DNA. Both cyclobutane dimers & 6-4 photo- products are thought to be toxic & mutagenic lesions. These photoproducts are removed from DNA by nucleotide excision repair.

More general terms

• DNA base lesion

Additional terms

• nucleotide excision repair