Final answer:
Uracil glycosylase cleaves the N-glycosidic bond between uracil and the deoxyribose sugar in DNA, initiating base excision repair to maintain genomic stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Function of Uracil Glycosylase
Uracil glycosylase is an enzyme that specifically cleaves the N-glycosidic bond between uracil and the deoxyribose sugar in DNA, thereby initiating the base excision repair (BER) process. This enzyme plays a crucial role in correcting DNA mutations that arise when cytosine deaminates to uracil, which is not normally present in DNA. Once the incorrect uracil base is removed by uracil glycosylase, the DNA strand can be repaired by other enzymes in the repair pathway.
The process whereby uracil is excised from DNA involves the hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond. Uracil glycosylase acts to maintain DNA integrity, preventing the accumulation of mutations that could lead to various diseases, including cancer. The functionality of uracil glycosylase is essential for the maintenance of genomic stability and cell health.