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. 1985 Jul;163(1):213–220. doi: 10.1128/jb.163.1.213-220.1985

Induction of transversion mutations in Escherichia coli by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine is SOS dependent.

P L Foster, E Eisenstadt
PMCID: PMC219100  PMID: 3891727

Abstract

Escherichia coli alkA mutants, which are deficient for an inducible DNA glycosylase, 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II, are sensitive to mutagenesis by low doses of the alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). As many as 90% of the alkA-dependent mutations induced by MNNG are also umuC+ dependent and thus are due to DNA lesions that are substrates for the mutagenic functions of the SOS response. A great number of these mutations are base substitutions at A . T sites, particularly A . T transversions. We discuss which DNA lesions may be responsible for these mutations. Our results show that the induction of 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II, which occurs as part of the adaptive response to alkylating agents such as MNNG, significantly reduces the mutagenicity as well as the lethality of alkylation damage.

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Selected References

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