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Title: In vitro bypass of UV-induced lesions by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I: specificity of nucleotide incorporation

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

A variety of DNA polymerases, synthesizing in vitro on an UV-irradiated phiX174 DNA template, terminate synthesis one nucleotide before the 3' pyrimidines of putative dimers on the template. We have devised a system using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) that can synthesize past at least some of these dimers. The bypass is carried out in a multistep process--first, the incorporation of nucleotides opposite the pyrimidines in the dimer and, then, the addition of nucleotides complementary to the bases distal to the dimer. The insertion of a nucleotide opposite the first (3') pryimidine of a putative dimer in the presence of Mn/sup 2 +/ occurs in a concentration-dependent fashion with a 3- to 4-fold preference for purine nucleotides over pyrimidine nucleotides. In the presence of Mg/sup 2 +/, insertion is less frequent. Correlation of these results with in vivo mutation data suggests a role for the polymerase in determining the spectrum of base substitution mutagenesis in SOS induced cells.

Research Organization:
University of Chicago, IL
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76EV02040
OSTI ID:
5724330
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 80:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English