The roles of Klenow processing and flap processing activities of DNA polymerase I in chromosome instability in Escherichia coli K12 strains

Genetics. 2002 Jan;160(1):13-23. doi: 10.1093/genetics/160.1.13.

Abstract

The sequences of spontaneous mutations occurring in the endogenous tonB gene of Escherichia coli in the DeltapolA and polA107 mutant strains were compared. Five categories of mutations were found: (1) deletions, (2) minus frameshifts, (3) plus frameshifts, (4) duplications, and (5) other mutations. The DeltapolA strain, which is deficient in both Klenow domain and 5' --> 3' exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase I, shows a marked increase in categories 1-4. The polA107 strain, which is deficient in the 5' --> 3' exonuclease domain but proficient in the Klenow domain, shows marked increases in categories 3 and 4 but not in 1 or 2. Previously, we reported that the polA1 strain, which is known to be deficient in the Klenow domain but proficient in the 5' --> 3' exonuclease domain, shows increases in categories 1 and 2 but not in 3 or 4. The 5' --> 3' exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase I is a homolog of the mammalian FEN1 and the yeast RAD27 flap nucleases. We therefore proposed the model that the Klenow domain can process deletion and minus frameshift mismatch in the nascent DNA and that flap nuclease can process plus frameshift and duplication mismatch in the nascent DNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • DNA Polymerase I / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics*
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • GC Rich Sequence
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Duplication
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • tonB protein, Bacteria
  • tonB protein, E coli
  • DNA Polymerase I