Sequence analysis of lacZ- mutations induced by ion beam irradiation in double-stranded M13mp18DNA

While M13mp18 double-stranded DNA was irradiated with ion beam, and transfected intoE. coli JM103, a decrease of transfecting activity was discovered. The lacZ^- mutation frequency at 20% survival could reach (3.6–16.8) × 10⁴, about 2, 3–10 times that of unirradiated M13DNA. Altogether, 27 IacZ^-mutants were selected, 10 of which were used for sequencing. 7 of the sequenced mutants show base changes in 250-bp region examined (the remaining 3 mutants probably have base changes outside the regions sequenced). 5 of the base-changed mutants contain more than one mutational base sites (some of them even have 5–6 mutational base sites in 250-bp region examined); this dense distribution of base changes in polysites has seldom been seen in X-rays, Y-rays or UV induced DNA mutations. Our experiments also showed that the types of base changes include transitions(50%), transversions (45%) and deletion (5%); no addition or duplication was observed. The transitions were mainly C→T and A→G; the transversions were mainly C→A and C→G. The mutations involving cytosine residue (in the template strand) constitute about 60% of all the base changes observed. In comparison with the surrounding sequences of mutational base sites, the base located between TG and CT is found to be easily substituted.     

离子注入诱变莲花突变体分子机理的初步研究

低能离子注入技术作为生物物理诱变的一种新型技术, 在园艺植物育种方面具有很大的应用潜力, 但其诱变的分子机理目前知之甚少。文章对Fe+ 离子注入诱变的白洋淀红莲(Nelumbium speciosum Willd)突变体及其对照的基因组进行RAPD研究, 并将突变体和对照在辐射敏感位点的条带进行克隆测序及DNA序列分析。在已优化好的RAPD体系下扩增, 从110条随机引物中筛选出了10条可以稳定扩增出显著特异条带的引物, 引物多态性为9.09%。将这10条引物扩增出的辐射敏感位点的条带进行克隆测序, 并进行序列比对。结果显示: 突变体的总碱基突变频率为0.87%, 6个突变体的碱基突变频率存在着差异; 碱基突变类型包括碱基的颠换、转换、缺失、插入, 在检测到的159个碱基突变中, 单碱基置换的频率(61.01%)高于碱基插入或者缺失的频率(38.99%), 在碱基置换中, 转换的频率(44.65%)是颠换频率(16.35%)的2.7倍, 其中C/T之间的转换所占比例最大, A→G和A→T也具有较高的替换频率; 构成DNA的4种碱基均可以被离子束辐照诱变发生变异, 除了没有C→G的置换外, 每一种碱基都可以被其他的几种碱基所置换, 但是胸腺嘧啶(T)具有较高的辐射敏感性。通过对碱基突变位点周边序列的分析发现, 嘌呤突变位点的周围嘌呤碱居多, 嘧啶突变位点的周围嘧啶碱居多。研究结果为揭示低能离子注入诱变作用分子机理提供了依据。     

Mutational specificity of thymine deprivation-induced mutation in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli

LacI⁻ mutants obtained following 2 and 6 h of thymine deprivation were cloned and sequenced. The mutational spectra recovered were dissimilar. After 2 h of starvation the majority of mutations were base substitutions, largely G: C→C: G transversions. Frameshift mutations but not deletions were observed. In contrast, following 6 h of starvation, with the exception of the G: C→C: G transversion, all possible base substitutions were recovered. Moreover, several deletions but no frameshift events were observed. The differences in the mutational spectra recovered after two periods of thymine deprivation highlight the role of altered nucleotide pools and the potential influence of DNA replication mechanisms.     

Changes in DNA base sequences in the mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana induced by low-energy N+ implantation

To reveal the mutation effect of low-energy ion implantation on Arabidopsis thaliana in vivo, T80II, a stable dwarf mutant, derived from the seeds irradiated by 30 keV N⁺ with the dose of 80×10¹⁵ ions/cm² was used for Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and base sequence analysis. The results indicated that among total 397 RAPD bands observed, 52 bands in T80II were different from those of wild type showing a variation frequency 13.1%. In comparison with the sequences of A. thalianain GenBank, the RAPD fragments in T80II were changed greatly in base sequences with an average rate of one base change per 16.8 bases. The types of base changes included base transition, transversion, deletion and insertion. Among the 275 base changes detected, single base substitutions (97.09%) occurred more frequently than base deletions and insertions (2.91%). And the frequency of base transitions (66.55%) was higher than that of base transversions (30.55%). Adenine, thymine, guanine or cytosine could be replaced by any of other three bases in cloned DNA fragments in T80II. It seems that thymine was more sensitive to the irradiation than other bases. The flanking sequences of the base changes in RAPD fragments in T80II were analyzed and the mutational “hotspot” induced by low-energy ion implantation was discussed.     

EMS-induced mutant frequency and spectrum in bone marrow of D6-2 transgenic mice

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DNA sequence analysis of spontaneous and γ-radiation (anoxic)-induced lacI mutations in Escherichia coliumuC122::Tn5: differential requirement for umuC at G · C vs. A · T sites and for the production of transversions vs. transitions

Escherihica coliumC122::Tn5 cells were γ-radiated (¹³⁷Cs, 750 Gy, under N₂), and lac-constitutive mutants were produced at 36% of the wild-type level (the umC strain was not deficient in spontaneous mutagenesis, and the mutational spectrum determined by sequencing 263 spontaneous lacI^d mutations was very similar to that for the wild-type strain). The specific nature of the umC strain's partial radiation was determined by sequencing 325 radiation-induced lacI^d mutations. The yields of radiation-induced mutation classes in the umC strain (as a percentage of the wild-type yield) were: 80% for A · T → G · C transitions, 70% for multi-base additions, 60% for single-base deletions, 53% for A · T → C · G transversions, 36% for G · C → A · T transitions, 25% for multi-base deletions, 21% for A · T → T · A transversions, 11% for G · C → C · G transversions, 9% for G · C → T · A transversions and 0% for multiple mutations. Based on these deficiencies and other factors, it is concluded that the umC strain is near-normal for A · T → G · C transitions, single-base deletions and possibly A · T → C · G transversions; is generally deficient for mutagenesis at G · C sites fro transversions, and is grossly deficient in multiple mutations. Damage at G · C sites seems more difficult for translesion DNA synthesis to bypass than damage at A · T sites, and especially when trying to produced a transversion. The yield of G · C → A · T transitions in the umC strain *36% of the wild-type level) argues that a basic sites are involved in no more than 64% of γ-radiation-induced base substitutions in the wild-type strain. Altogether, these data suggest that the UmuC and UmuD′ proteins facilitate, rather than being absolutely required for, translesion DNA synthesis; with the degree of facilitation being dependent both on the nature of the noncoding DNA damage, i.e., at G · C vs A · T sites, and on the nature of the misincorporated base, i.e., whether it induces transversions or transitions.     

The mutagenic properties of BrdUTP in a random mutagenesis process

To explore the mutagenic properties of the nucleotide analogue bromodeoxyuridine triphosphate (BrdUTP), the wild type α-amylase (xamy) gene from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004 was used as a mutational target. It was mutated using PCR techniques to partially replace deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) with BrdUTP. A total of 18 mutants were selected for DNA sequencing from the mutagenesis libraries by their ability to hydrolyze the starch. The results showed that 70% of the total mutations were single base-pair substitutions; BrdUTP also induced deletion and insertion mutation types. Among single base-pair substitutions, the predominant mutation type is transition (84%), but three kinds of transversions (16%) were also detected. It thus mainly induces A:T → G:C and T:A → C:G transitions. This result indicated that when bromouracil is present as a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate substrate it mainly paired with dAMP, and when it is present as a template base it could pair with free dGTP. Three mutational hot spots induced by BrdUTP were revealed in this work.     

Spontaneous Mutation in the Escherichia Coli Laci Gene

To gain more detailed insight into the nature and mechanisms of spontaneous mutations, we undertook a DNA sequence analysis of a large collection of spontaneous mutations in the N-terminal region of the Escherichia coli lacI gene. This region of circa 210 base pairs is the target for dominant lacI mutations (i-d) and is suitable for studies of mutational specificity since it contains a relatively high density of detectable mutable sites. Among 414 independent i-d mutants, 70.8% were base substitutions, 17.2% deletions, 7.7% additions and 4.3% single-base frameshifts. The base substitutions were both transitions (60%) and transversions (40%), the largest single group being G.C----A.T (47% of base substitutions). All four transversions were observed. Among the 71 deletions, a hotspot (37 mutants) was present: an 87-bp deletion presumably directed by an 8-bp repeated sequence at its endpoints. The remaining 34 deletions were distributed among 29 different mutations, either flanked (13/34) or not flanked (21/34) by repeated sequences. The 32 additions comprised 29 different events, with only two containing a direct repeat at the endpoints. The single-base frameshifts were the loss of a single base from either repeated (67%) or nonrepeated (33%) bases. A comparison with the spectrum obtained previously in strains defective in DNA mismatch correction (mutH, mutL, mutS strains) yielded information about the apparent efficiency of mismatch repair. The overall effect was 260-fold but varied substantially among different classes of mutations. An interesting asymmetry was uncovered for the two types of transitions, A.T----G.C and G.C----A.T being reduced by mismatch repair 1340- and 190-fold, respectively. Explanations for this asymmetry and its possible implications for the origins of spontaneous mutations are discussed.     

Mutational specificity of ethyl methanesulfonate in excision-repair-proficient and -deficient strains of Drosophila melanogaster

Summary The vermilion gene was used as a target to determine the mutational specificity of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) in germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster. To study the impact of DNA repair on the type of mutations induced, both excision-repair-proficient (exr ⁺) and excision-repair-deficient (exr ^–) strains were used for the isolation of mutant flies. In all, 28 mutants from the exr ⁺ strain and 24 from the exr ^– strain, were characterized by sequence analysis. In two mutants obtained from the exr ⁺ strain, small deletions were observed. All other mutations were caused by single base-pair changes. In two mutants double base-pair substitutions had occurred. Of the mutations induced in the exr ⁺ strain, 22 (76%) were GCAT transitions, 3 (10%) ATTA transversions, 2 (6%) GCTA transversions and 2 (6%) were deletions. As in other systems, the mutation spectrum of EMS in Drosophila is dominated by GCAT transitions. Of the mutations in an exr ^– background, 12 (48%) were GCAT transitions, 7 (28%) ATTA transversions, 5 (20%) GCTA transversions and 1 (4%) was a ATGC transition. The significant increase in the contribution of transversion mutations obtained in the absence of an active maternal excision-repair mechanism, clearly indicates efficient repair of N-alkyl adducts (7-ethyl guanine and 3-ethyl adenine) by the excision-repair system in Drosophila germ cells.     

Characterization of mutational specificity within the lacI gene for a mutD5 mutator strain of Escherichia coli defective in 3''----5'' exonuclease (proofreading) activity.

The mutD (dnaQ) gene of Escherichia coli codes for the epsilon subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme which is involved in 3'----5' exonuclease proofreading activity. We determined the mutational specificity of the mutator allele, mutD5, in the lacI gene of E. coli. The mutD5 mutation preferentially produces single base substitutions as judged from the enhanced fraction of lacI nonsense mutations and the spectrum of sequenced dominant lacI (lacId) and constitutive lacO (lacOc) mutations which were predominantly (69/71) single nucleotide substitutions. The distribution of amber lacI and sequenced lacId mutations revealed that transitions occur more frequently than transversions. A . T----G . C and G . C----A . T transitions were equally frequent and, with one major exception, evenly distributed among numerous sites. Among the transversions, A . T----T . A events were the most common, A . T----C . G substitutions were rare, and G . C----C . G changes were not detected. Transversions were unequally distributed among a limited number of sites with obvious hotspots. All 11 sequenced transversions had a consensus neighboring sequence of 5'-C-C-(mutated G or A)-C-3'. Although no large deletions or complex mutational events were recovered, sequencing revealed that mutD5 induced single nucleotide deletions within consecutive G X C sequences. An extraordinary A . T----G . C transition hotspot occurred at nucleotide position +6 in the lac operator region; the mutD5 mutation frequency of this single base pair was calculated to be 1.2 X 10(-3).     

Three <Emphasis Type="Italic">nth</Emphasis> homologs are all required for efficient repair of spontaneous DNA damage in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus radiodurans</Emphasis>

Deinococcus radiodurans is a bacterium that can survive extreme DNA damage. To understand the role of endonuclease III (Nth) in oxidative repair and mutagenesis, we constructed nth single, double and triple mutants. The nth mutants showed no significant difference with wild type in both IR resistance and H₂O₂ resistance. We characterized these strains with regard to mutation rates and mutation spectrum using the rpoB/Rif^r system. The Rif^r frequency of mutant MK1 (△dr0289) was twofold higher than that of wild type. The triple mutant of nth (ME3)generated a mutation frequency 34.4-fold, and a mutation rate 13.8-fold higher than the wild type. All strains demonstrated specific mutational hotspots. Each single mutant had higher spontaneous mutation frequency than wild type at base substitution (G:C → A:T). The mutational response was further increased in the double and triple mutants. The higher mutation rate and mutational response in ME3 suggested that the three nth homologs had non-overlapped and overlapped substrate spectrum in endogenous oxidative DNA repair.     

Molecular Analysis of Mutations Induced in the Vermilion Gene of Drosophila Melanogaster by Methyl Methanesulfonate

The nature of DNA sequence changes induced by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) at the vermilion locus of Drosophila melanogaster was determined after exposure of postmeiotic male germ cell stages. MMS is a carcinogen with strong preference for base nitrogen alkylation (s = 0.86). The spectrum of 40 intralocus mutations was dominated by AT----GC transitions (23%), AT----TA transversions (54%) and deletions (14%). The small deletions were preferentially found among mutants isolated in the F1 (8/18), whereas the AT----GC transitions exclusively occurred in the F2 (6/22). The MMS-induced transversions and deletions are presumably caused by N-methyl DNA adducts, which may release apurinic intermediates, known to be a time-related process. Furthermore, MMS produces multilocus deletions, i.e., at least 30% of the F1 mutants analyzed were of this type. A comparison of the mutational spectra of MMS with that produced by ethylnitrosourea (ENU), also in the vermilion locus of Drosophila, reveals major differences: predominantly transition mutations (61% GC----AT and 18% AT----GC) were found in both the F1 and F2 spectrum induced by ENU. It is concluded that the mutational spectrum of MMS is dominated by nitrogen DNA adducts, whereas with ENU DNA sequence changes mainly arose from modified oxygen in DNA.     

Changes in DNA base sequences in the mutant of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> induced by low-energy N<Superscript>+</Superscript> implantation

To reveal the mutation effect of low-energy ion implantation on Ambidopsis thaliana in vivo, T80II, a stable dwarf mutant, derived from the seeds irradiated by 30 keV N⁺ with the dose of 80 X 10¹⁵ ions/cm² was used for Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and base sequence analysis. The results indicated that among total 397 RAPD bands observed, 52 bands in T80II were different from those of wild type showing a variation frequency 13.1%. In comparison with the sequences of A. thaliana in GenBank, the RAPD fragments in T80II were changed greatly in base sequences with an average rate of one base change per 16.8 bases. The types of base changes included base transition, transversion, deletion and insertion. Among the 275 base changes detected, single base substitutions (97.09%) occurred more frequently than base deletions and insertions (2.91%). And the frequency of base transitions (66.55%) was higher than that of base transversions (30.55%). Adenine, thymine, guanine or cytosine could be replaced by any of other three bases in cloned DNA fragments in T80II. It seems that thymine was more sensitive to the irradiation than other bases. The flanking sequences of the base changes in RAPD fragments in T80II were analyzed and the mutational “hotspot” induced by low-energy ion implantation was discussed.     

β-Thalassemia and βA globin gene haplotypes in Mexican mestizos

β-globin haplotypes of 20 β-thalassemia (β-thal) and 87 β^A Mexican mestizo chromosomes were analyzed to ascertain the origin of the β-thal alleles and the frequencies and distribution of the β^A haplotypes among northwestern Mexican mestizos. Sixteen β-thal chromosomes carried six Mediterranean alleles [five codon 39 C→T; two IVS1:1 G→A; two IVS1:5 G→A; three IVS1:110 G(A; one codon 11 (–T) and three (δβ)°-thal]; the remaining four were linked to three rare alleles (two –28 A→C and one each: –87 C→T and initiation codon ATG→GTG). Among the 87 β^A chromosomes, 17 different 5′ haplotypes with frequencies for 1, 3, 2 and 5 of 39.0%, 17. 2%, 9.2% and 6.9%, respectively, were observed. The β-haplotype analysis showed that 13 out of 16 Mediterranean chromosomes could easily be explained by gene migration; however, one codon 39 associated with haplotype 4 (– – – – + + –), one IVS1:1 with haplotype 1(+ – – – – + +) and one IVS1:5 G→A, may represent separate mutational events. Analysis of the rare alleles showed that the –28 A→C mutation was associated with the commonest β^A haplotype in Mexican mestizos, Mediterraneans and the total world population; therefore an independent origin cannot be ruled out. The –87 C→T and initiation codon ATG→GTG were found with β-haplotypes different from the reported ones, suggesting an indigenous origin. Received: 23 April 1996 / Revised: 10 September 1996     

DNA base sequence changes induced by diethyl sulfate in postmeiotic male germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Summary The DNA base sequence changes induced by diethyl sulfate (DES) were analyzed in postmeiotic male germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster. 31 transmissible vermilion mutants were recovered in F₁ and F₂ generations, with a frequency of 2.6 × 10^–4 for the F₁, and of 1.8–13 × 10^–4 for the F₂. The results show that DES induces both base pair substitutions (93%) and deletions (7%). In accord with its relatively high ability to alkylate oxygens in DNA, the most frequent type of sequence alteration among the basepair changes are GC-AT transitions, accounting for 73% of mutations, followed by transversions AT-TA (10%). DES also induced AT-GC transitions and AT-CG transversions. Both induced deletions were intralocus deletions, not occurring between basepair repeats. No influence of neighboring bases on the mutation position was found.     

Sequence specificity of point mutations induced during passage of a UV-irradiated shuttle vector plasmid in monkey cells.

A simian virus 40-based shuttle vector was used to characterize UV-induced mutations generated in mammalian cells. The small size and placement of the mutagenesis marker (the supF suppressor tRNA gene from Escherichia coli) within the vector substantially reduced the frequency of spontaneous mutations normally observed after transfection of mammalian cells with plasmid DNA; hence, UV-induced mutations were easily identified above the spontaneous background. UV-induced mutations characterized by DNA sequencing were found primarily to be base substitutions; about 56% of these were single-base changes, and 17% were tandem double-base changes. About 24% of the UV-induced mutants carried multiple mutations clustered within the 160-base-pair region sequenced. The majority (61%) of base changes were the G . C----A . T transitions; the other transition (A . T----G . C) and all four transversions occurred at about equal frequencies. Hot spots for UV mutagenesis did not correspond to hot spots for UV-induced photoproduct formation (determined by a DNA synthesis arrest assay); in particular, sites of TT dimers were underrepresented among the UV-induced mutations. These observations suggest to us that the DNA polymerase(s) responsible for mutation induction exhibits a localized loss of fidelity in DNA synthesis on UV-damaged templates such that it synthesizes past UV photoproducts, preferentially inserting adenine, and sometimes misincorporates bases at undamaged sites nearby.     

Nucleotide sequence and evolution of coding and noncoding regions of a quail mitochondrial genome

Summary Segments of the Japanese quail mito-chondrial genome encompassing many tRNA and protein genes, the small and part of the large rRNA genes, and the control region have been cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the relative position of these genes confirmed that the tRNA^Glu and ND6 genes in galliform mitochondrial DNA are located immediately adjacent to the control region of the molecule instead of between the cytochrome b and ND5 genes as in other vertebrates. Japanese quail and chicken display another distinctive characteristic, that is, they both lack an equivalent to the light-strand replication origin found between the tRNA^Cys and tRNA^Asn genes in all vertebrate mitochondrial genomes sequenced thus far. Comparison of the protein-encoding genes revealed that a great proportion of the substitutions are silent and involve mainly transitions. This bias toward transitions also occurs in the tRNA and rRNA genes but is not observed in the control region where transversions account for many of the substitutions. Sequence alignment indicated that the two avian control regions evolve mainly through base substitutions but are also characterized by the occurrence of a 57-bp deletion/addition event at their 5′ end. The overall sequence divergence between the two gallinaceous birds suggests that avian mitochondrial genomes evolve at a similar rate to other vertebrate mitochondrial DNAs.     

Molecular, genetic and biochemical characterization of lactate dehydrogenase-A enzyme activity mutations in Mus musculus

Four independent heterozygous lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) mutations with approximately 60% of wild-type enzyme activity in whole blood have been recovered. The mutant line Ldh1 ^a2Neu proved to be homozygous lethal, whereas for the three lines Ldh1 ^a7Neu, Ldh1 ^a11Neu, and Ldh1 ^a12Neu homozygous mutants with about 20% residual activity occurred in the progeny of heterozygous inter se matings. However, the number of homozygous mutants was less than expected, suggesting an increased lethality of these animals. Various physicochemical and kinetic properties of LDH are altered. Exons of the Ldh1 gene were PCR amplified and sequenced to determine the molecular lesion in the mutant alleles. Ldh1 ^a2Neu carried an A/T → G/C transition in codon 112 (in exon 3), resulting in an Asn → Asp substitution; Asn112 is part of the helix αD, which is involved in the coenzyme-binding domain. Ldh1 ^a7Neu contained an A/T → C/G transversion within the codon for residue 194 in exon 4, causing an Asp → Ala substitution, which may affect the arrangement of the substrate-binding site. Three base substituions were discovered for the mutation Ldh1 ^a11Neu in exon 7: the transition C/G → T/A, a silent mutation, and two transversions C/G → A/T and C/G → G/C, both missense mutations, which led to the amino acid replacements Ala319 → Glu and Thr321 → Ser, respectively, located in the αH helix structure of the COOH tail of LDHA. We suggest that the mutation is the result of a gene conversion event between Ldh1 ^a wild-type gene and the pseudogene Ldh1-ps. The alteration Ile → Thr of codon 241 in exon 6 caused by the base pair change T/A → C/G was identified in the mutation Ldh1 ^a12Neu; IIe241 is included in the helix α2G, a structure that is indirectly involved in coenzyme binding. Each of the sequence alterations has a potential impact on the structure of the LDHA protein, which is consistent with the decreased LDH activity and biochemical and physiological alterations. Received: 3 July 1997 / Accepted: 30 September 1997     

Analysis of nucleotide substitutions of mitochondrial DNAs in Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species

To study the rate and pattern of nucleotide substitution in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we cloned and sequenced a 975-bp segment of mtDNA from Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. mauritiana containing the genes for three transfer RNAs and parts of two protein- coding genes, ND2 and COI. Statistical analysis of synonymous substitutions revealed a predominance of transitions over transversions among the three species, a finding differing from previous results obtained from a comparison of D. melanogaster and D. yakuba. The number of transitions observed was nearly the same for each species comparison, including D. yakuba, despite the differences in divergence times. However, transversions seemed to increase steadily with increasing divergence time. By contrast, nonsynonymous substitutions in the ND2 gene showed a predominance of transversions over transitions. Most transversions were between A and T and seemed to be due to some kind of mutational bias to which the A + T-rich mtDNA of Drosophila species may be subject. The overall rate of nucleotide substitution in Drosophila mtDNA appears to be slightly faster (approximately 1.4 times) than that of the Adh gene. This contrasts with the result obtained for mammals, in which the mtDNA evolves approximately 10 times faster than single-copy nuclear DNA. We have also shown that the start codon of the COI gene is GTGA in D. simulans and GTAA in D. mauritiana. These codons are different from that of D. melanogaster (ATAA).      

Changes in DNA base sequence induced by targeted mutagenesis of lambda phage by ultraviolet light

In targeted mutagenesis of lambda phage by ultraviolet light, the mutations are caused by radiation-induced lesions in the phage DNA. Of 62 mutations in the lambda cI gene that were sequenced, 41 (63%) of the targeted mutations were transitions, with similar numbers of C X G to T X A and T X A to C X G base changes. The remaining 21 mutations were about equally divided among eight transversions, seven frameshifts (5 additions and 2 deletions), and six double events with either two nearby base changes or a base change and a nearby frameshift. Of the 62 mutations, 60 could be associated with -Pyr-Pyr- sequences in the DNA, sites of likely photoproducts. For more information on this point, lambda phage were irradiated with 313 nm light in the presence of acetophenone, for which the major photoproduct is reported to be the thymine-thymine cyclobutyl dimer, with no measurable Pyr(6-4)Pyo photoproducts. Of 22 mutations sequenced, 19 were transversions and only one was a transition, permitting the conclusion that thymine-thymine cyclobutyl dimers are not the primary cause of ultraviolet light-induced transitions. A consideration of all the data strongly suggests that Pyr(6-4)Pyo photoproducts are mutagenic lesions.