Skip to main content

Mutational specificity of a conditional Escherichia coli mutator, mutD5

Molecular and General Genetics MGG volume 133, pages 179–191 (1974)Cite this article

Summary

MutD5, a conditional mutator in Escherichia coli, causes the stimulation of mutation frequencies 50 to 100 fold in minimal medium. In rich medium mutation frequencies are further increased 50 to 100 fold. We show here that all possible base-pair mutations are increased in a mutD5 strain grown in rich medium. A:T↔G:C transitions as well as A:T↔C:G, A:T↔T:A aud G:C↔C:G transversions are stimulated. Transitions occur more frequently than transversions. MutD5 also increases the reversion frequencies of three trpA frameshift mutations by causing base-pair additions, and, possibly, base-pair deletions.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Allen, M. K., Yanofsky, C.: A biochemical and genetic study of reversion with the A-gene A-protein system of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthetase. Genetics 48, 1065–1083 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, H., Brammar, W. J., Yanofsky, C.: Spontaneous and ICR191-A induced frameshift mutations in the A gene of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthetase. J. Bact. 96, 1672–1679 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, H., Yanofsky, C.: Suppressor selection for amino acid replacements expected on the basis of the genetic code. Science 156, 394–397 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brammar, W. J.: Independent expression of the A gene of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli during tryptophan starvation. J. gen. Microbiol. 76, 395–405 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brammar, W. J., Berger, H., Yanofsky, C.: Altered amino acid sequences produced by reversion of frameshift mutants of tryptophan synthetase A gene of E. coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 58, 1499–1506 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brutlag, D., Kornberg, A.: Enzymatic synthesis of DNA. XXXVI. A proofreading function for the 3′–5′ exonuclease activity in DNA polymerases. J. biol. Chem. 247, 241–248 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, E. C., Degnen, G. E., Scheppe, M. L.: Mutator gene studies in Escherichia coli: The mutS gene. Genetics 72, 551–567 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, E. C., Yanofsky, C.: Altered base ratios in the DNA of an Escherichia coli mutator strain. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 58, 1895–1902 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crick, F. H. C.: Codon-anticodon pairing: The Wobble hypothesis. J. molec. Biol. 19, 548–555 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Degnen, G. E., Cox, E. C.: A conditional mutator gene in Escherichia coli: Isolation, mapping and effector studies. J. Bact. 117, 477–487 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Demerec, M., Adelberg, E. A., Clark, A. J., Hartman, P. E.: A proposal for a uniform nomenclature in bacterial genetics. Genetics 54, 61–76 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Drapeau, G. R., Brammar, W. J., Yanofsky, C.: Amino acid replacements of the glutamic acid residue at position 48 in the tryptophan synthetase A protein of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 35, 395–405 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fresco, J. R., Alberts, B. M.: The accommodation of noncomplementary bases in helical polyribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleic acids. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 46, 311–321 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • 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)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lennox, E. S.: Transduction of linked genetic characters of the host by bacteriophage Pl. Virology 1, 190–206 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, G., Yanofsky, C.: Influence of 3-methylanthranilic and anthranilic acids on the formation of tryptophan synthetase in Escherichia coli. J. Bact. 81, 81–90 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, A., Masys, D., Leonardi, E., Wygal, D.: Association of induced frameshift mutagenesis and DNA replication in Escherichia coli. Nature (Lond.) new Biol. 236, 19–22 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardee, A. B., Jacob, F., Monod, J.: The genetic control and cytoplasmic expression of “inducibility” in the synthesis of β-galactosidase by E. coli. J. molec. Biol. 1, 165–178 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, E. C.: Ultraviolet-sensitive mutator strain of Escherichia coli K-12. J. Bact. 113, 145–160 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, E. C., Bryson, V.: Mutator gene of Escherichia coli B. J. Bact. 94, 38–47 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, E. C., Kamel, F.: Reversion of frameshift mutations by mutator genes in Escherichia coli. J. Bact. 117, 994–1001 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Streisinger, G., Okada, Y., Emrich, J., Newton, J., Tsugita, A., Terzaghi, E., Inouye, M.: Frameshift mutations and the genetic code. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 31, 77–84 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Treffers, H. P., Spinelli, V., Belser, N. O.: A factor (or mutator gene) influencing mutation rates in Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 40, 1064–1071 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, H. J., Bonner, D. M.: Acetylornithinase of Escherichia coli: Partial purification and some properties. J. biol. Chem. 218, 97–106 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanofsky, C., Carlton, B. C., Guest, J. R., Helinski, D. R., Henning, U.: On the colinearity of gene structure and protein structure. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 51, 266–272 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanofsky, C., Cox, E. C., Horn, V. D.: The unusual mutagenic specificity of an Escherichia coli mutator gene. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 55, 274–281 (1966a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanofsky, C., Ito, J., Horn, V. D.: Amino acid replacements and the genetic code. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 31, 151–162 (1966b)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, N. J., USA

    Robert G. Fowler, Gerald E. Degnen & Edward C. Cox

  2. Department of Biochemical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, N. J., USA

    Robert G. Fowler, Gerald E. Degnen & Edward C. Cox

  3. Department of Human Genetics, Yale University, 06510, New Haven, Conn., USA

    Gerald E. Degnen

Authors
  1. Robert G. Fowler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerald E. Degnen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edward C. Cox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by E. Witkin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fowler, R.G., Degnen, G.E. & Cox, E.C. Mutational specificity of a conditional Escherichia coli mutator, mutD5 . Molec. Gen. Genet. 133, 179–191 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267667

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267667

Keywords

  • Escherichia Coli
  • Minimal Medium
  • Mutation Frequency
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Rich Medium