DNA double-strand breaks induced by high NaCl occur predominantly in gene deserts.

Dmitrieva NI, Cui K, Kitchaev DA, Zhao K, Burg MB.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Dec 20;108(51):20796-801. doi:10.1073/pnas.1114677108

At high osmolarity, double-strand breaks (DSBs) form in cells. Repair is much more active once osmolarity has been lowered, as viewed by the increase of γH2AX foci. ChIP sequencing of these foci show a strong enrichment in gene deserts. The authors suggest that gene deserts could be a vertebrate adaptation to the high-salt environment of their kidney cells.