Maintenance of genomic stability in cells is primordial for cellular integrity and protection against tumor progression. Many factors such as ultraviolet light, oxidative stress, exposure to chemical reagents, particularly mutagens and radiation, can alter the integrity of the genome. Thus, human cells are equipped with many mechanisms that prevent these irreversible lesions in the genome, as DNA repair pathways, cell cycle checkpoints, and telomeric function. These mechanisms activate cellular apoptosis to maintain DNA stability. Emerging studies have proposed a new protein in the maintenance of genomic stability: the DNA fragmentation factor (DFF). The DFF40 is an endonuclease responsible of the oligonucleosomal fragmentation of the DNA during apoptosis. The lack of DFF in renal carcinoma cells induces apoptosis without oligonucleosomal fragmentation, which poses a threat to genetic information transfer between cancerous and healthy cells. In this review, we expose the link between the DFF and genomic instability as the source of disease development.

维持细胞中的基因组稳定性对于细胞完整性和防止肿瘤进展至关重要。许多因素，如紫外线、氧化应激、暴露于化学试剂，尤其是诱变剂和辐射，都可以改变基因组的完整性。因此，人类细胞配备了许多机制来防止基因组中的这些不可逆损伤，例如 DNA 修复途径、细胞周期检查点和端粒功能。这些机制激活细胞凋亡以维持 DNA 稳定性。新兴研究提出了一种维持基因组稳定性的新蛋白质：DNA 片段化因子 (DFF)。DFF40 是一种核酸内切酶，负责在细胞凋亡过程中 DNA 的寡核小体片段化。肾癌细胞中 DFF 的缺乏诱导细胞凋亡而没有寡核小体片段化，这对癌细胞和健康细胞之间的遗传信息传递构成威胁。在这篇综述中，我们揭示了 DFF 和基因组不稳定性之间的联系作为疾病发展的根源。