Oxidative DNA Damage

**Semantic type:** Genetic Function

**Definition:** The oxidation of deoxyribonucleosides in DNA strands, which may occur due to exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under normal conditions, low levels of oxidized nucleosides are present; this steady state level may play a role epigenetic control of gene expression and is maintained by enzymes of the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Elevated levels of oxidative DNA damage are associated with oxidative stress, tumorigenesis and certain diseases, including neurologic conditions such as Alzheimer disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

**Synonyms:** - DNA Oxidation - Oxidative Damage of DNA