MEANS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING GENES AND PROTEINS INVOLVED IN THE PREVENTION AND/OR REPAIR OF A REPLICATION ERROR

摘要

The DNA in a cell is prone to mutation. Since too many mutations are detrimental to the survival of a cell or an organism, special mechanism have developed to prevent and/or repair at least part of such mutations. Many of these mechanisms act before the mutation becomes fixed into the genome through replication of the DNA. Some of the genes involved in the prevention of mutations have been identified. However, prior to the invention there was no coherent and systematic way of doing so. The means and methods of the invention enable a person skilled in the art to determine whether a product of a gene is involved in the prevention of a mutation. Identified genes can be used to develop diagnostic tools or used as a target for drug development to manipulate cells on the basis of the presence or absence of function of this gene. Since DNA instability is one of the reasons for rapid tumor progression, it will be useful to provide cancer cells with additional product of such genes for instance through gene therapy.