The specificity of base-pair substitution induced by the mutL and mutS mutators in E. coli

Mutat Res. 1985 Mar;142(3):93-7. doi: 10.1016/0165-7992(85)90046-6.

Abstract

The Escherichia coli mutator alleles, mutL and mutS, produced transversion as well as transition base-pair substitutions with the trpA reversion system. Transversions, however, were generally mutator-induced at a lower level than transitions and the specific type of transversion and its nucleotide position appeared to strongly affect its level of enhancement. These results are interpreted to mean that mutL- and mutS-dependent mismatch correction is generally more effective at correcting transition mispairings than transversion mispairings. Correction of transversion mispairings is probably dependent upon site of occurrence and type of mismatch.

MeSH terms

  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Mutation*
  • Operon
  • Tryptophan / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Tryptophan