Andrés Aguilera – författare

This volume explores homologous recombination’s (HR) essential role in meiotic and somatic cells. It discusses the analysis of different steps of the HR process from the genetic, molecular biology, and cell biology perspectives. Using a variety of model systems, chapters in this book cover topics such as the genome-wide mapping of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB); analysis of DNA-end resection and recombination intermediates by gel electrophoresis and southern blotting; cell-based monitoring of HR activity in meiotic and mitotic cells; in vitro analysis of branch migration, DNA strand exchange and Holliday junction resolution; or super resolution imaging of HR repair at collapsed replication forks. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Cutting-edge and thorough, Homologous Recombination: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource that uses both classical and more recent approaches to answer questions on the HR mechanism. It is a useful tool for scientists working on the field of genome integrity, as well as those working in cancer biology and DNA repair. 

Genetic recombination is an important process involved in shaping the genetic make up of progeny. Increasingly, it has become evident that recombination is a DNA repair pathway crucial during DNA replication in vegetatively growing cells. It plays a critical role in preserving the integrity of the genome by mediating the repair of DNA damage, which can occur during normal cellular metabolism as a result of oxidative stress, transcription, replication fork stalling or breakdown, or after the exposure to DNA damaging agents. Until recently, much of our knowledge on the mechanisms of genetic recombination has come from studies of prokaryotic and simple eukaryotic fungal systems. However, these studies have now been significantly extended to mammals, such that a comparative picture of the general factors and mechanisms of genetic recombination is beginning to emerge. Detailed genetic and biochemical studies have led to the isolation and characterization of many of the recombination-repair proteins in E. coli and S. cerevisiae, which in turn has led to the identification of homologues in human cells. The link between recombination defects and recombination proteins in a number of tumors as well as in human hereditary syndromes makes genetic recombination a cellular process of key importance not only in basic biology but also in biomedical studies.