Inhibition of DNA repair by metals

Abstract

Humans have been in contact with metals almost since the beginning of our existence. In fact, one cannot even think on human evolution without considering the great role played by metals in mankind’s development. Some metals are essentials for cellular processes; however other metals are less beneficial, owing to their ability to promote a wide variety of deleterious health effects, including cancer.
The evidence that inhibition of DNA-repair processes is an important step in metal carcinogenesis is growing; however a uniform mechanism of action for all metals is unlikely given the diverse chemical properties of each metal. In the present review, the impairment of DNA-repair by metals and the different mechanisms of metal DNA repair inhibition, such as, inactivation of enzymes, binding to cellular components, induction of DNA damage, etc, will be discussed.