Ribonucleotide incorporation into DNA and genome destabilization

"RNA incorporation into and destabilization" does not refer to a specific molecular target such as an enzyme, receptor, or transporter. Instead, it describes the **process by which ribonucleotides (the building blocks of RNA) are mistakenly incorporated into genomic DNA during replication or repair**. This can occur because the cellular concentration of RNA precursors is much higher than that of deoxyribonucleotides. Normally, these embedded ribonucleotides are efficiently removed by the canonical **ribonucleotide excision repair (RER)** pathway—primarily involving enzymes like RNase H2—but failure in this system leads to their accumulation. Accumulated ribonucleotides cause **genome instability**, resulting in delayed replication, increased DNA damage signaling, epigenetic dysfunctions, and can contribute to disease states such as Aicardi–Goutières syndrome and tumor development. The phenomenon is not itself a druggable target but rather an outcome or marker of defective nucleic acid metabolism pathways[1][3][6]. Because this entry refers broadly to a process rather than a discrete molecular entity or therapeutic target classically defined in pharmacology or molecular biology databases—and lacks specificity regarding any single gene/protein—it should be flagged as incorrect for use as a canonical drug discovery target.

Other names

RNA incorporation into DNARibonucleotide incorporationGenomic ribonucleotide accumulationEmbedded ribonucleotides in DNA