Isoform 1 is widely expressed with the highest expression in skeletal muscle, heart and testicles. Isoform 2 has the highest expression levels in tissues containing proliferating cells. Uracil-DNA glycosylase exists in two forms: mitochondrial uracil-DNA glycosylase 1 (UNG1) and nuclear uracil-DNA glycosylase 2 (UNG2). uracil-DNA glycosylase. This gene encodes one of several uracil-DNA glycosylases. One important function of uracil-DNA glycosylases is to prevent mutagenesis by eliminating uracil from DNA molecules by cleaving the N-glycosylic bond and initiating the base-excision repair (BER) pathway. Uracil bases occur from cytosine deamination or misincorporation of dUMP residues. Alternative promoter usage and splicing of this gene leads to two different isoforms: the mitochondrial UNG1 and the nuclear UNG2. The UNG2 term was used as a previous symbol for the CCNO gene (GeneID 10309), which has been confused with this gene, in the literature and some databases. Defects in UNG are a cause of immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM type 5 (HIGM5). A rare immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by normal or elevated serum IgM levels with absence of IgG, IgA, and IgE. It results in a profound susceptibility to bacterial infections.
