Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair recognizes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage during transcription. DNA damage is repaired by TC-NER.
Humans lacking this pathway suffer from Cockayne syndrome. In this syndrome, a cell is much more likely to activate apoptosis pathway. The repair system of Cockayne patients cannot recognize stalled transcription complexes. The cell death pathway would be activated more frequently in a Cockayne syndrome.
Cockayne syndrome patients have a variety of symptoms associated with premature aging. Affected individuals are very sensitive to sunlight and have short stature.