Preparation and Template Activities of Polynucleotides Containing O2- and O4-alkyluridine
Abstract
O2-Ethyl-UDP and O4-methyl-UDP have been prepared and copolymerized in various proportions with UDP or CDP, using polynucleotide phosphorylase. The copolymers were used as templates for DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in the presence of Mn2+. Both of the O-alkylated uridines caused a similar misincorporations. When copolymerized with U they led to incorporation of CMP and GMP into the poly(A). No AMP or UMP incorporation seemed to be caused by the introduction of O-alkyluridines into either poly(U) or poly(C). The mispairing of O2- and O4-alkyluridine to behave like C or G represents mutagenic events. O2 alkylation of U or T is, in contrast to O4 alkylation, a relatively frequent result of treatment of double-stranded nucleic acids with N-nitroso alkylating agents. In single-stranded nucleic acids both O2 and O4 alkylations of U and T occur to similar extents. Thus, the observed mutagenic effects of O2 and O4 alkylation of U may be involved in the high carcinogenicity of these alkylating agents.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- April 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.75.4.1722
- Bibcode:
- 1978PNAS...75.1722S