Biomaterial Database

Highly mutable sites for ICR-170-induced frameshift mutations are associated with potential DNA hairpin structures: studies with SUP4 and other Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes. 1986

D M Hampsey, and R A Koski, and F Sherman

The majority of the mutations induced by ICR-170 in both the CYC1 gene (J. F. Ernst et al. Genetics 111:233-241, 1985) and the HIS4 gene (L. Mathison and M. R. Culbertson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:2247-2256, 1985) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were recently shown to be single G . C base-pair insertions at monotonous runs of two or more G . C base pairs. However, not all sites were equally mutable; in both the CYC1 and HIS4 genes there is a single highly mutable site where a G . C base pair is preferentially inserted at a [sequence in text]. Here we report the ICR-170 mutagen specificity at the SUP4-o tyrosine tRNA gene of yeast. Genetic fine structure analysis and representative DNA sequence determination of ICR-170-induced mutations revealed that there is also a single highly mutable site in SUP4-o and that the mutation is a G . C base-pair insertion at a monotonous run of G . C base pairs. Analysis of DNA sequences encompassing the regions of highly mutable sites for all three genes indicated that the mutable sites are at the bases of potential hairpin structures; this type of structure could not be found at any of the other, less mutable G . C runs in SUP4, CYC1, and HIS4. Based on these results and recent information regarding novel DNA structural conformations, we present a mechanism for ICR-170-induced mutagenesis. (i) ICR-170 preferentially binds to DNA in the beta conformation; factors that increase the temporal stability of this structure, such as adjacent stem-and-loop formation, increase the frequency of ICR-170 binding; (ii) the observed mutagen specificity reflects formation of a preferred ICR-170 intercalative geometry at [sequence in text] sites; (iii) during replication or repair, ICR-170 remains associated with the single-stranded template; (iv) stuttering or strand slippage by the polymerization complex as it encounters the mutagen results in nucleotide duplication; (v) subsequent replication or mismatch repair fixes the insertion into the genome. This mechanism accounts for both the IRC-170 mutagenic specificity and the molecular basis of the highly mutable sites in S. cerevisiae.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D009588	Nitrogen Mustard Compounds	A group of alkylating agents derived from mustard gas, with the sulfur replaced by nitrogen. They were formerly used as toxicants and vesicants, but now function as antineoplastic agents. These compounds are also powerful mutagens, teratogens, immunosuppressants, and carcinogens.	Compounds, Nitrogen Mustard,Mustard Compounds, Nitrogen
D004271	DNA, Fungal	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of fungi.	Fungal DNA
D005800	Genes, Fungal	The functional hereditary units of FUNGI.	Fungal Genes,Fungal Gene,Gene, Fungal
D000609	Aminoacridines	Acridines which are substituted in any position by one or more amino groups or substituted amino groups.
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012441	Saccharomyces cerevisiae	A species of the genus SACCHAROMYCES, family Saccharomycetaceae, order Saccharomycetales, known as "baker's" or "brewer's" yeast. The dried form is used as a dietary supplement.	Baker's Yeast,Brewer's Yeast,Candida robusta,S. cerevisiae,Saccharomyces capensis,Saccharomyces italicus,Saccharomyces oviformis,Saccharomyces uvarum var. melibiosus,Yeast, Baker's,Yeast, Brewer's,Baker Yeast,S cerevisiae,Baker's Yeasts,Yeast, Baker
D013489	Suppression, Genetic	Mutation process that restores the wild-type PHENOTYPE in an organism possessing a mutationally altered GENOTYPE. The second "suppressor" mutation may be on a different gene, on the same gene but located at a distance from the site of the primary mutation, or in extrachromosomal genes (EXTRACHROMOSOMAL INHERITANCE).	Suppressor Mutation,Genetic Suppression,Genetic Suppressions,Mutation, Suppressor,Mutations, Suppressor,Suppressions, Genetic,Suppressor Mutations