DNA damage is important to understand since it has the potential to lead to disease if unrepaired. In particular, bulky C8 guanine adducts (addition products) are known to induce a variety of mutations due to their conformational flexibility. C-linked C8-phenoxyl-deoxyguanosine adducts (PhOH-dG) have been poorly understood despite their potential for genotoxicity. This thesis systematically develops a computational model to predict the conformational and base-pairing preferences of PhOH-dG by gradually increasing the size of the system. The structure of PhOH-dG in DNA is determined, where the bulky C8 group induces a syn conformation of the base similar to other C8-adducts. A stabilized guanine mismatch is identified for the syn adducts, which implies that the primary mechanism of genotoxicity may be base-substitution mutations resulting in G→C transversions. This thesis has contributed to a growing body of literature dedicated to understanding the role of conformational heterogeneity in the mutagenicity of bulky C8-adducts. / xix, 192 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm

PiRNAs and their Piwi family protein partners are part of a germline specific epigenetic regulatory mechanism essential for proper spermatogenesis, silencing of transposable elements, and maintaining germline genome integrity, yet their role in the response of the male germline to genotoxic stress is unknown. Ionizing radiation (IR) is known to cause transgenerational genome instability that is linked to carcinogenesis. Although the molecular etiology of IR-induced transgenerational genomic instability is not fully understood, it is believed to be an epigenetically mediated phenomenon. IR-induced alterations in the expression pattern of key regulatory proteins involved in the piRNA pathway essential for paternal germline genome stability may be directly involved in producing epigenetic alterations that can impact future generations. Here we show whole body and localized X-irradiation leads to significant altered expression of proteins that are necessary for, and intimately involved in, the proper functioning of the germline specific piRNA pathway in mice and rats. In addition we found that IR-induced alterations to piRNA pathway protein levels were time and dose dependent. / ix, 123 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm