Mechanism of the mutagenic action of hydroxylamine. VIII. Functional properties of the modified adenosine residues

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1975 Apr 16;390(1):1-13.

Abstract

The action of O-methylhydroxylamine in vitro upon some amber and rII ochre mutants of T4 phage leads to a considerable increase in the frequency of reversions and conversions of ochre and opal mutants presumably due to A yields G transitions. The transitions seem to be caused by modification of the adenine bases of the genome to give N-6-methoxyadenine which has equivocal (A- and G-like) specificity. However, the functional activity of N-6-methoxyadenosine residues in the RNA polymerase system is low. We failed to detect any significant activity of these residues either as components of a template polyribonucleotide, or as nucleoside triphosphate precursors.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine Nucleotides / chemical synthesis
  • Adenosine / metabolism*
  • Coliphages / drug effects
  • Coliphages / metabolism*
  • DNA Viruses / drug effects
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
  • Hydroxylamines / pharmacology*
  • Kinetics
  • Mutagens / pharmacology*
  • Mutation
  • Templates, Genetic
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Hydroxylamines
  • Mutagens
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
  • Adenosine