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The “tale” of UmuD and its role in SOS mutagenesis †
Author(s) -
Gonzalez Martín,
Woodgate Roger
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.10040
Subject(s) - sos response , mutagenesis , dna polymerase , dna damage , dna , biology , genetics , dna replication , escherichia coli , polymerase , dna repair , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , mutation
Recently, the Escherichia coli umuD and umuC genes have been shown to encode E. coli 's fifth DNA polymerase, pol V (consisting of a heterotrimer of UmuD′ 2 C). The main function of pol V appears to be the bypass of DNA lesions that would otherwise block replication by pols I–IV. This process is error‐prone and leads to a striking increase in mutations at sites of DNA damage. While the enzymatic properties of pol V are now only beginning to be fully appreciated, a great deal is known about how E. coli regulates the intracellular levels of the Umu proteins so that the lesion‐bypassing activity of pol V is available to help cells survive the deleterious consequences of DNA damage, yet keeps any unwarranted activity on undamaged templates to a minimum. Our review summarizes the multiple restrictions imposed upon pol V, so as to limit its activity in vivo and, in particular, highlights the pivotal role that the N‐terminal tail of UmuD plays in regulating SOS mutagenesis. BioEssays 24:141–148, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.