Elevated mutation rates in the germline of Polkappa mutant male mice

DNA Repair (Amst). 2006 Jul 13;5(7):860-2. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2006.04.003. Epub 2006 May 30.

Abstract

Mutation rates at two expanded simple tandem repeat (ESTR) loci were studied in the germline of DNA polymerase kappa (Polkappa(-/-)) deficient mice. The spontaneous mutation rate in homozygous Polkappa(-/-) males was significantly higher than in isogenic wild-type mice (Polkappa(+/+)), but the ESTR mutation spectrum in Polkappa(-/-) animals did not differ from that in Polkappa(+/+) males. We suggest that compromised translesion synthesis in Polkappa(-/-) mice may result in replication fork pausing which, in turn, may affect ESTR mutation rate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / deficiency
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / genetics*
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Minisatellite Repeats

Substances

  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Polk protein, mouse