Preferential repair of DNA damage on the transcribed strand of the human metallothionein genes requires RNA polymerase II. 1991

S A Leadon, and D A Lawrence
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

To examine the possible role of transcription in directing repair of DNA damage in active genes, we compared repair of UV- and aflatoxin B1-induced damage on each strand of the human metallothionein (hMT) genes. Repair on the transcribed strand of an active hMT gene occurs at least 3 times faster than that on its nontranscribed strand. Both strands of inactive genes and both strands of a regulatory region 5' to an active gene are not repaired at this faster rate. Inducing higher levels of transcription with dexamethasone selectively increased the rate of repair on only the transcribed strand of the induced gene, while treatment of cells with alpha-amanitin eliminated the strand-selective repair. These results demonstrate that repair on the transcribed strand of a gene is independent of repair on the nontranscribed strand and that the transcriptional complex plays a role in directing repair to the transcribed strand of active genes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008668 Metallothionein A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals. Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D011740 Pyrimidine Dimers Dimers found in DNA chains damaged by ULTRAVIOLET RAYS. They consist of two adjacent PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOTIDES, usually THYMINE nucleotides, in which the pyrimidine residues are covalently joined by a cyclobutane ring. These dimers block DNA REPLICATION. Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer,Cyclobutane-Pyrimidine Dimer,Cytosine-Thymine Dimer,Pyrimidine Dimer,Thymine Dimer,Thymine Dimers,Cyclobutane-Pyrimidine Dimers,Cytosine-Thymine Dimers,Thymine-Cyclobutane Dimer,Thymine-Thymine Cyclobutane Dimer,Cyclobutane Dimer, Thymine-Thymine,Cyclobutane Dimers, Thymine-Thymine,Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers,Cytosine Thymine Dimer,Cytosine Thymine Dimers,Pyrimidine Dimer, Cyclobutane,Pyrimidine Dimers, Cyclobutane,Thymine Cyclobutane Dimer,Thymine Thymine Cyclobutane Dimer,Thymine-Cyclobutane Dimers,Thymine-Thymine Cyclobutane Dimers
D003907 Dexamethasone An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid. Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004260 DNA Repair The removal of DNA LESIONS and/or restoration of intact DNA strands without BASE PAIR MISMATCHES, intrastrand or interstrand crosslinks, or discontinuities in the DNA sugar-phosphate backbones. DNA Damage Response
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000348 Aflatoxins Furano-furano-benzopyrans that are produced by ASPERGILLUS from STERIGMATOCYSTIN. They are structurally related to COUMARINS and easily oxidized to an epoxide form to become ALKYLATING AGENTS. Members of the group include AFLATOXIN B1; aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2; AFLATOXIN M1; and aflatoxin M2. Aflatoxin
D000546 Amanitins Cyclic peptides extracted from carpophores of various mushroom species. They are potent inhibitors of RNA polymerases in most eukaryotic species, blocking the production of mRNA and protein synthesis. These peptides are important in the study of transcription. Alpha-amanitin is the main toxin from the species Amanitia phalloides, poisonous if ingested by humans or animals. Amanitin
D012319 RNA Polymerase II A DNA-dependent RNA polymerase present in bacterial, plant, and animal cells. It functions in the nucleoplasmic structure and transcribes DNA into RNA. It has different requirements for cations and salt than RNA polymerase I and is strongly inhibited by alpha-amanitin. EC 2.7.7.6. DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase II,RNA Pol II,RNA Polymerase B,DNA Dependent RNA Polymerase II

Related Publications

S A Leadon, and D A Lawrence
January 1997, Molecular and cellular biology,
S A Leadon, and D A Lawrence
January 2011, Frontiers in plant science,
S A Leadon, and D A Lawrence
June 2017, Open biology,
S A Leadon, and D A Lawrence
October 2004, The EMBO journal,
Copied contents to your clipboard!