DNA-SCARS (short for DNA segments with chromatin alterations reinforcing senescence) are

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: *Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics *Nuclear space * Nuclear ...

substructures with persistent DNA damage and DNA damage response proteins found in senescent cells. DNA-SCARS are associated with PML nuclear bodies and the accumulation of activated ATM, ATR,

CHK2 CHEK2 (Checkpoint kinase 2) is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes the protein CHK2, a serine-threonine kinase. CHK2 is involved in DNA repair, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Mutations to the CHEK2 gene have been linked ...

and p53 proteins. DNA-SCARS lack most of the characteristics of transient, reversible DNA damage foci, such as single-stranded DNA, active DNA synthesis, and DNA repair proteins RPA and

RAD51 DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 1 is a protein encoded by the gene ''RAD51''. The enzyme encoded by this gene is a member of the RAD51 protein family which assists in repair of DNA double strand breaks. RAD51 family members are homologous to th ...

. Telomere dysfunction-induced foci (TIF) are generally associated with DNA-SCARS. Together with senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), DNA-SCARS are one of the most prevalent nuclear markers of cellular senescence.

History

DNA-SCARS were discovered by

Judith Campisi Judith Campisi is an American biochemist and cell biologist. She is a professor of biogerontology at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. She is also a member of the SENS Research Foundation Advisory Board and an adviser at the Lifeboat F ...

and colleagues, who first described them in 2011, although most of their characteristics were previously known.

References

{{reflist Cellular senescence Cell nucleus DNA