Wiley, Molecular Microbiology, 02(18), p. 185-189, 1995
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1995.mmi_18020185.x
Full text: Unavailable
In one experimental system, several handles on the molecular mechanism of apparent adaptive mutation have emerged. The system is reversion of a lac frameshift 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 postsynthesis 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.