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Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Modrich, P
Published in: J Biol Chem
April 25, 1989

In 1964 Robin Holliday (1) proposed the correction of DNA base pair mismatches within recombination intermediates as the basis for gene conversion. The existence of the mismatch repair systems implied by this proposal is now well established. Activities that recognize and process base pairing errors within the DNA helix have been identified in bacteria, fungi, and mammalian cells. However, the functions and mechanisms of such systems are best understood in Escherichia coli, an organism that possesses at least three distinct mismatch correction pathways. These three systems are involved not only in the processing of recombination intermediates but also contribute in a major way to the genetic stability of the organism, a function anticipated for mismatch repair by Tiraby and Fox and by Wagner and Meselson. The significance of mismatch correction in the maintenance of low spontaneous mutability becomes apparent when one considers that seven E. coli mutator genes (dam, mutD, mutH, mutL, mutS, mutU, and mutY) have been implicated in mismatch repair. This minireview will summarize information on the most extensively studied E. coli system for mismatch correction, the methyl-directed pathway for processing of DNA biosynthetic errors and intermediates in genetic recombination. A discussion of other E. coli mismatch correction systems may be found in the recent literature and in several recent reviews. Mismatch repair pathways in other organisms and descriptions of the structural properties of mispaired bases may also be found in several of these reviews.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Biol Chem

ISSN

0021-9258

Publication Date

April 25, 1989

Volume

264

Issue

12

Start / End Page

6597 / 6600

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Methylation
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Escherichia coli
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA Repair
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
 

Citation

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Modrich, P. (1989). Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction. J Biol Chem, 264(12), 6597–6600.
Modrich, P. “Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction.J Biol Chem 264, no. 12 (April 25, 1989): 6597–6600.
Modrich P. Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction. J Biol Chem. 1989 Apr 25;264(12):6597–600.
Modrich, P. “Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction.J Biol Chem, vol. 264, no. 12, Apr. 1989, pp. 6597–600.
Modrich P. Methyl-directed DNA mismatch correction. J Biol Chem. 1989 Apr 25;264(12):6597–6600.

Published In

J Biol Chem

ISSN

0021-9258

Publication Date

April 25, 1989

Volume

264

Issue

12

Start / End Page

6597 / 6600

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Methylation
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Escherichia coli
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA Repair
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences