Somatic hypermutation at A.T pairs: polymerase error versus dUTP incorporation

Nat Rev Immunol. 2005 Feb;5(2):171-8. doi: 10.1038/nri1553.

Abstract

Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes occurs at both C.G pairs and A.T pairs. Mutations at C.G pairs are created by activation-induced deaminase (AID)-catalysed deamination of C residues to U residues. Mutations at A.T pairs are probably produced during patch repair of the AID-generated U.G lesion, but they occur through an unknown mechanism. Here, we compare the popular suggestion of nucleotide mispairing through polymerase error with an alternative possibility, mutation through incorporation of dUTP (or another non-canonical nucleotide).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenine
  • Animals
  • Base Pair Mismatch / genetics*
  • Base Pairing / genetics
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase*
  • Deoxyuracil Nucleotides / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin / genetics*
  • Thymine

Substances

  • Deoxyuracil Nucleotides
  • deoxyuridine triphosphate
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Adenine
  • Thymine