AID/APOBEC family and its role in carcinogenesis

The AID/APOBEC gene family originated during evolution to perform functions related to organismal defense. At present, AID/APOBEC genes encode proteins that are structurally similar but functionally diverse. Most AID/APOBEC proteins exhibit deaminase activity toward cytidyl nucleotides in single-stranded DNA and RNA. In addition to cytidine deamination within viral genomes – which restricts infection – these deaminases are also capable of inducing mutations in the human genome. APOBEC-associated mutations represent one of the most common mutational signatures in cancer: they have been detected in approximately 75 % of cancer types and in more than 50 % of all tumors. The aim of this review is to analyze the role of AID/APOBEC-induced mutations in the genesis of human malignancies.