Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Multiple point mutations in a shuttle vector propagated in human cells: evidence for an error-prone DNA polymerase activity

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

Mutagenesis was studied at the DNA-sequence level in human fibroblast and lymphoid cells by use of a shuttle vector plasmid, pZ189, containing a suppressor tRNA marker gene. In a series of experiments, 62 plasmids were recovered that had two to six base substitutions in the 160-base-pair marker gene. Approximately 20-30% of the mutant plasmids that were recovered after passing ultraviolet-treated pZ189 through a repair-proficient human fibroblast line contained these multiple mutations. In contrast, passage of ultraviolet-treated pZ189 through an excision-repair-deficient (xeroderma pigmentosum) line yielded only 2% multiple base substitution mutants. Introducing a single-strand nick in otherwise unmodified pZ189 adjacent to the marker, followed by passage through the xeroderma pigmentosum cells, resulted in about 66% multiple base substitution mutants. The multiple mutations were found in a 160-base-pair region containing the marker gene but were rarely found in an adjacent 170-base-pair region. Passing ultraviolet-treated or nicked pZ189 through a repair-proficient human B-cell line also yielded multiple base substitution mutations in 20-33% of the mutant plasmids. An explanation for these multiple mutations is that they were generated by an error-prone polymerase while filling gaps. These mutations share many of the properties displayed by mutations in the immunoglobulin hypervariable regions.

Research Organization:
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
OSTI ID:
6170288
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 84:14; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Restricted ultraviolet mutational spectrum in a shuttle vector propagated in xeroderma pigmentosum cells
Journal Article · Fri Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6914870

Abnormal ultraviolet mutagenic spectrum in plasmid DNA replicated in cultured fibroblasts from a patient with the skin cancer-prone disease, xeroderma pigmentosum
Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Clin. Invest.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5650854

Ultraviolet mutagenesis in a plasmid vector replicated in lymphoid cells from patient with the melanoma-prone disorder dysplastic nevus syndrome
Journal Article · Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Cancer Research; (USA) · OSTI ID:5184301