Illegitimate recombination induced by benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide in Escherichia coli

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.85.4.1043· OSTI ID:6655391

Kokontis, J M; Vaughan, J; Harvey, R G; Weiss, S B

Duplex DNA oligomer constructs (32 base pairs) were paired that contained a single benzo(a)pyrene (BP) adduct at a specific deoxyadenosine or deoxyguanosine site in either one or both strands. These constructs were inserted into M13 replicative form viral DNA, and the DNA from progeny virus generated by transfection of Escherichia coli was examined by sequence analysis at the site of oligomer insertion. With nonalkylated constructs, and with constructs containing only one BP adduct, no sequence alterations were found in progeny viral DNAs. With constructs containing two BP adducts, one in each strand and closely spaced, some progeny DNAs showed the original oligomer sequence, whereas others exhibited large deletions and illegitimate (non-homologous) recombination, both of which removed the damage construct. Increasing the distance between BP adducts in the construct reduced the frequency of recombinant events. These sequence alterations occurred in both recA/sup +/ and recA/sup -/ host cells. The authors speculate that the closely spaced adducts in opposite construct strands cause a rare distortion in DNA structure, which activates the recombinant machinery, and that mutagenic and carcinogenic agents other than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may cause similar DNA distortions, which induce illegitimate recombination.

• Research Organization: Franklin McLean Memorial Research Institute, Chicago, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-86ER60394
• OSTI ID: 6655391
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 85:4; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201 -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADDUCTS
ALKYLATION
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARCINOGENESIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DNA
DNA ADDUCTS
DNA SEQUENCING
GENE RECOMBINATION
GENETIC EFFECTS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MUTAGENESIS
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOMBINANT DNA
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS