Detecting UV-induced nucleic-acid damage

• Many methods measure and detect DNA damage.
• Fluorescent techniques are some of the newest methods applied to DNA damage.
• Fluorescent hybridization probes are easy to use and low cost.
• Fluorescent probes have the highest sensitivity and specificity to DNA damage.

Nucleic acids (NAs) play a vital role in numerous biological processes. Absorption of ultraviolet (UV) light by NAs can result in DNA damage at the molecular level, leading to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death. Thus, much effort has been focused on developing methods for detecting damage in NA. This article discusses the different methods used for detecting UV-induced NA damage and compares them regarding their selectivity and sensitivity to the damage induced in NAs and their advantages and limitations.