The structural basis for the mutagenicity of O(6)-methyl-guanine lesions.

ABSTRACT: Methylating agents are widespread environmental carcinogens that generate a broad spectrum of DNA damage. Methylation at the guanine O(6) position confers the greatest mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. DNA polymerases insert cytosine and thymine with similar efficiency opposite O(6)-methyl-guanine (O6MeG). We combined pre-steady-state kinetic analysis and a series of nine x-ray crystal structures to contrast the reaction pathways of accurate and mutagenic replication of O6MeG in a high-fidelity DNA polymerase from Bacillus stearothermophilus. Polymerases achieve substrate specificity by selecting for nucleotides with shape and hydrogen-bonding patterns that complement a canonical DNA template. Our structures reveal that both thymine and cytosine O6MeG base pairs evade proofreading by m

SUBMITTER: Warren JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1750904 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature