cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer

Introduction

UV light forms different types of DNA damage. The most common lesions are cyclobutane dimers formed from photocyclization of adjacent pyrimidines. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers can form between any 2 adjacent pyrimidines. Both cyclobutane dimers & 6-4 photoproducts are thought to be toxic & mutagenic lesions. These photoproducts are removed from DNA by nucleotide excision repair.

More general terms

• DNA base lesion

More specific terms

• thymine dimer; thymine cyclobutane dimer

Additional terms

• nucleotide excision repair