Effect of temperature on transition and transversion mutagenesis: characterization of wild type and a mutator T4 DNA polymerase mutant

Can J Genet Cytol. 1984 Jun;26(3):386-9. doi: 10.1139/g84-060.

Abstract

The effect of temperature on genetically well-defined mutational pathways was examined in the bacteriophage T4. The mutational site was a T4 rII ochre mutant which could revert to rII+ via a transversion or to the amber convertant via a transition. Temperature did not strongly affect any of the pathways examined in a wild-type background; however, increased temperature reduced the mutational activity of a mutator DNA polymerase mutant. Possible models to explain the role of temperature in mutagenesis are discussed as well as the significance of low temperatures for in vitro mutagenesis reactions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Genes*
  • Genes, Viral*
  • Genotype
  • Mutation*
  • Species Specificity
  • T-Phages / enzymology
  • T-Phages / genetics*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase