DNA damage can result in the protein it encoded to be defective or dysfunctional or not synthesized. DNA damage can be caused by free radicals, cross-linking by glycation, mutagens or UV light. The impairment of body’s natural DNA repair capacity with aging can also lead to DNA damage and accumulation of mutations through cell divisions. The accumulation of DNA damage increases with age. When wrinkle and anti-wrinkle genes’ DNA are damaged, the proteins encoded by these genes become defective or their levels are significantly decreased resulting in aging skin appearance and/or premature skin aging diseases.
- DNA mutation: mutation of anti-wrinkle genes
- PYCR1 – mutation or defective of PYCR1 gene causes the premature skin aging disease known as “wrinkly skin syndrome” (see post “The Mitochondrial Gene PYCR1 Is Not A Wrinkle Gene”)