Analysis of Gene-Specific DNA Damage and Repair Using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

Soon after discovery of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), various laboratories have attempted to use quantitative PCR (QPCR) to detect DNA damage in specific gene segments. The development of techniques that facilitate long PCR increased the sensitivity of the assay so that biologically relevant doses of DNA-damaging agents could be assessed. QPCR has been used to survey DNA damage induced by different genotoxicants and to establish the repair kinetics of numerous genes. Current work seeks to analyze damage and repair in specific genes from animals exposed to specific DNA-damaging agents such as oxidative stress.