DNA glycosylases are a family of enzymes involved in base excision repair. Base excision repair is the mechanism by which nucleotide residues in DNA with chemically altered nitrogen bases can be removed and replaced.

DNA glycosylase generates an apurinic or apyrimidinic site by removing the nitrogen base while leaving the sugar-phosphate backbone intact. These AP sites are recognised by AP endonuclease enzymes which complete the rest of the repair.

References

• Griffiths, Anthony J. et al (2005). Introduction to Genetic Analysis (8th Ed.). W.H. Freeman. ISBN 0-7167-4939-4

DNA repair | Enzymes