HTLV-I Tax Increases Genetic Instability by Inducing DNA Double Strand Breaks during DNA Replication and Switching Repair to NHEJ

Abstract

This study provides new insights in Tax effects on DNA repair and genome instability. Although it may not be self sufficient, the creation of DNA breaks and subsequent abnormal use of the non-conservative NHEJ DNA repair during the S phase in HTLV-I-infected Tax-expressing cells may cooperate with other factors to increase genetic and genome instability and favor transformation.