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Increased spontaneous mutation rates in mutants of E. coli with altered DNA polymerase III

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Summary

Two temperature-sensitive mutants in dnaE, the structural gene for DNA polymerase III of Escherichia coli, show increased spontaneous mutation rates at permissive temperatures. Studies of the reversion of well-characterized trpA mutations in dnaE strains show that the mutagenic effect of altered DNA polymerase III applies to several different base substitution events, but not to frameshifts. The results suggest that DNA polymerase III is involved in base-selection during DNA replication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

    Ruth M. Hall & W. J. Brammar

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Monash University, 3168, Melbourne Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Ruth M. Hall

Authors
  1. Ruth M. Hall
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  2. W. J. Brammar
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Communicated by Ch. Auerbach

MRC Molecular Genetics Unit

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Hall, R.M., Brammar, W.J. Increased spontaneous mutation rates in mutants of E. coli with altered DNA polymerase III. Molec. Gen. Genet. 121, 271–276 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267054

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267054

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