Chromosomal stability and the DNA double-stranded break connection

Genome stability is of primary importance for the survival and proper funct ioning of all organisms. Double-stranded breaks in DNA are important threat s to genome integrity because they can result in chromosomal aberrations th at can affect, simultaneously, many genes, and lead to cell malfunctioning and cell death. These detrimental consequences are counteracted by two mech anistically distinct pathways of double-stranded break repair: homologous r ecombination and non-homologous end-joining. Recently, unexpected links bet ween these double-stranded break-repair systems, and several human genome i nstability and cancer predisposition syndromes, have emerged. Now, interact ions between both double-stranded break-repair pathways and other cellular processes, such as cell-cycle regulation and replication, are being unveile d.