Ž . Mutation Research 410 1998 271–290 Adduct formation, mutagenesis and nucleotide excision repair of DNA damage produced by reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation product Peter Møller ) , Hakan Wallin ˚ National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkalle 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark ´ Received 30 September 1997; revised 12 December 1997; accepted 16 December 1997 Abstract Reactive oxygen species are formed constantly in living organisms, as products of the normal metabolism, or as a result of many different environmental influences. Here we review the knowledge of formation of DNA damage, the mutations caused by reactive oxygen species and the role of the excision repair processes, that protect the organism from oxidative DNA damage. In particular, we have focused on recent studies that demonstrate the important role of nucleotide excision . repair. We propose two major roles of nucleotide excision repair as 1 a backup when base excision repair of small oxidative . lesions becomes saturated, and as 2 a primary repair pathway for DNA damage produced by lipid peroxidation products. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: DNA repair; Exocyclic adduct; I-compound; Lipid peroxidation; Reactive oxygen species; Xeroderma pigmentosum Abbreviations: AdG, acrolein-derived 1, N 2 -propano-2 X -de- oxyguanosine; BER, base excision repair; CdG, crotonaldehyde- derived 1, N 2 -propano-2 X -deoxyguanosine; CHO, chinese hamster ovary; FaPy, formamidopyrimidine; I-compounds, indigenous 6 Ž . X compounds; M dA, N - 3-oxopropenyl -2 -deoxyadenosine; 1 4 Ž . X M dC, N - 3-oxopropenyl -2 -deoxycytosine; M dG, 1 1 w x Ž . X pyrimido 1,2-a purine-10 3 H -one-2 -deoxyribose; NER, nu- cleotide excision repair; N 2 ,3-´ dG, N 2 ,3-etheno-2 X -deoxyguano- 2 Ž . X sine; PdG, 1, N - 1,3-propano -2 -deoxyguanosine; XP, xero- derma pigmentosum; ´ dA, 1, N 6 -etheno-2 X -deoxydeoxyadenosine; ´ dC, 3, N 4 -etheno-2 X -deoxycytidine; 1, N 2 -´ dG, 1, N 2 -etheno-2 X - deoxyguanosine; 8-oxodA, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 X -deoxyadenosine; 8-oxodG, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 X -deoxyguanosine ) Corresponding author. Tel.: q45-39-29-97-11; fax: q45-39- 27-01-07; E-mail: pm@ami.dk 1. Introduction Ž . Reactive oxygen species ROS are formed con- tinuously in living cells as metabolic byproducts, through the action of exogenous compounds and radiation. The oxidative stress is influenced by sev- eral life-style factors, like exercise, diet, alcohol and wx smoking 1 . Endpoints that reflect oxidative stress and ROS induced damage are detectable after in- flammation and pathologic processes of diseases such wx wx as diabetes mellitus 2 and Alzheimer’s disease 3 . The process of ageing is also supposed to involve wx ROS 4 . 1383-5742r98r$19.00 q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Ž . PII S1383-5742 97 00041-0