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Molecular handles on adaptive mutation
Author(s) -
Rosenberg Susan M.,
Harris Reuben S.,
Torkelson Joel
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1995.mmi_18020185.x
Subject(s) - biology , mutation , mutagenesis , genetics , directed mutagenesis , reversion , dna , computational biology , polymerase , escherichia coli , gene , phenotype , mutant
In one experimental system, several handles on the molecular mechanism of apparent adaptive mutation have emerged. The system is reversion of a lac frame‐shift mutation in Escherichia coli . The molecular handles include a requirement for homologous recombination; the implication of DNA double‐strand breaks as a molecular intermediate; a unique sequence spectrum of −1 deletions in mononucleotide repeats which implies polymerase errors, and also implies a failure of post‐synthesis mismatch repair on those errors; and the involvement of sexual functions at some stage of the process. These molecular handles are revealing an unexpected new mechanism of mutagenesis.