Retroinversion

Retroinversion is a term used in genetics and molecular biology to describe a specific type of DNA repair process. It is a mechanism that corrects certain types of DNA damage, particularly lesions that distort the DNA helix. The core of retroinversion involves the reversal of a specific enzymatic step during DNA repair.

In the context of nucleotide excision repair (NER), a major pathway for removing bulky DNA lesions, retroinversion refers to the unwinding or reversal of the initial strand incision. Typically, NER involves making incisions on both sides of a damaged base, then removing the damaged nucleotide along with a short stretch of surrounding DNA, and finally resynthesizing the gap. However, in certain situations, the repair machinery might reverse the initial incision step before proceeding with the full excision.

This reversal can be crucial for ensuring the fidelity of DNA repair. It allows the cell to re-evaluate the lesion and the repair process, potentially preventing errors or the removal of incorrectly identified damage. While not as commonly discussed as other aspects of DNA repair, retroinversion highlights the dynamic and complex nature of cellular mechanisms that maintain genomic integrity. The precise conditions and molecular players involved in retroinversion are still areas of active research.