Molecular basis of base substitution hotspots in Escherichia coli
Abstract
In the lacI gene of Escherichia coli spontaneous base substitution hotspots occur at 5-methylcytosine residues. The hotspots disappear when the respective cytosines are not methylated. We suggest that the hotspots may result from the spontaneous deamination of 5-methylcytosine to thymine, which is not excised by the enzyme DNA-uracil glycosidase.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- August 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1038/274775a0
- Bibcode:
- 1978Natur.274..775C