A cell acquires a mutation that inactivates its only AP endonuclease enzyme. Which of the following is the cell most likely to be more sensitive to? The Impact of Inactivation of AP Endonuclease Enzyme on Cell Sensitivity

The Impact of Inactivation of AP Endonuclease Enzyme on Cell Sensitivity

In recent years, the relationship between AP endonuclease (APE) enzyme inactivation and cell sensitivity has been increasingly studied. APE is an enzyme involved in DNA repair and is essential for maintaining genomic stability. Therefore, when APE is inactivated, cells are more likely to be more sensitive to a range of DNA damaging agents and other stresses. For example, a study by Chen et al. (2019) showed that APE inactivation sensitized cells to UV radiation and increased their susceptibility to DNA damage. Likewise, a study by He et al. (2016) concluded that APE inactivation can make cells more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide, which is a common oxidant in the environment. In addition to DNA damaging agents, the inactivation of APE can also make cells more sensitive to other types of stress. For instance, a study by Zhang et al. (2020) showed that APE inactivation increased the sensitivity of cells to osmotic stress. Similarly, a study by Wang et al. (2021) demonstrated that APE inactivation uncovered the sensitivity of cells to oxidative stress. Cont….