The eukaryotic nucleus is continuously being exposed to endogenous and exogenous sources that cause DNA breaks, whose faithful repair requires the activity of dedicated nuclear machineries. DNA is packaged into a variety of chromatin domains, each characterized by specific molecular properties that regulate gene expression and help maintain nuclear structure. These different chromatin environments each demand a tailored response to DNA damage. Silenced chromatin domains in particular present a major challenge to the cell’s DNA repair machinery due to their specific biophysical properties and distinct, often repetitive, DNA content. To this end, we here discuss the interplay between silenced chromatin domains and DNA damage repair, specifically double-strand breaks, and how these processes help maintain genome stability.

中文翻译：

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沉默之声：沉默的染色质如何协调双链断裂的修复

真核细胞核不断暴露于导致 DNA 断裂的内源性和外源性来源，其忠实修复需要专用核机器的活动。DNA 被包装成各种染色质结构域，每个结构域都具有调节基因表达和帮助维持核结构的特定分子特性。这些不同的染色质环境都需要对 DNA 损伤做出量身定制的反应。由于其特定的生物物理特性和独特的、通常重复的 DNA 含量，沉默的染色质结构域尤其对细胞的 DNA 修复机制提出了重大挑战。为此，我们在这里讨论沉默的染色质结构域和 DNA 损伤修复之间的相互作用，特别是双链断裂，以及这些过程如何帮助维持基因组稳定性。