DNA mismatch repair pathway (MMR pathway)

The DNA mismatch repair pathway is a highly conserved multi-protein DNA repair mechanism that detects and corrects errors resulting from DNA replication, primarily base-base mismatches and small insertion-deletion loops. This pathway includes proteins such as MutS homologs (MSH2, MSH6, MSH3) that recognize DNA mismatches, and MutL homologs (MLH1, PMS2, PMS1, MLH3) that coordinate and execute excision and resynthesis of erroneous DNA segments. Proper function of the pathway is essential for preventing mutations and suppressing tumorigenesis, as loss or dysfunction leads to increased cancer risk and is a key feature of some hereditary cancer syndromes like Lynch syndrome.

Other names

Mismatch repair pathwayMMR systemPost-replicative mismatch repair pathwayDNA MMR

For relevant drugs: Synthetic lethality in MMR-deficient tumors, or increased immune recognition due to high mutational burden in MMR-deficient cancers targeted by immunotherapy