uracil-DNA-glycosylase; One important function of uracil-DNA glycosylases is to prevent mutagenesis by eliminating uracil from DNA molecules by cleaving the N-glycosylic bond and initiating the base-excision repair (BER) pathway. Uracil bases occur from cytosine deamination or misincorporation of dUMP residues. Alternative promoter usage and splicing of this gene leads to two different isoforms: the mitochondrial UNG1 and the nuclear UNG2.
Tumorsuppressor
Beyond ∼18 months of age, the Ung−/− mice (n=111) appeared more sickly and died at a higher rate than the Ung+/+ control animals (n=77). Median survival was significantly reduced by 15 weeks (13%). There were palpable solid tumours of the spleen, and also the mesentery lymph nodes, in 12% of Ung−/− mice; no splenic tumours were seen in Ung+/+ controls. The observed hyperplasia of multiple lymphoid organs in 28% of Ung−/− mice indicated abnormal lymphoproliferation that later manifested as lymphomas in approximately half of these animals.
Nilsen H et al., Oncogene. 2003 Aug 21;22(35):5381-6.
