Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Complementary base pairing and the origin of substitution mutations

M D Topal, J R Fresco

    Nature
    |September 23, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary

    The study expands DNA base pairing beyond Watson-Crick A-T and G-C to include non-canonical pairs, explaining their rarity and role in spontaneous mutations.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Third strand-mediated psoralen-induced correction of the sickle cell mutation on a plasmid transfected into COS-7 cells.

    Gene therapy·2006
    Same author

    A novel method for estimating ancestral amino acid composition and its application to proteins of the Last Universal Ancestor.

    Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)·2004
    Same author

    Structure of NaeI-DNA complex reveals dual-mode DNA recognition and complete dimer rearrangement.

    Nature structural biology·2001
    Same author

    Functional pleiotropy of an intramolecular triplex-forming fragment from the 3'-UTR of the rat Pigr gene.

    Physiological genomics·2001
    Same author

    Evidence for mutations that break communication between the Endo and Topo domains in NaeI endonuclease/topoisomerase.

    Biochemistry·2000
    Same author

    Crystal structure of NaeI-an evolutionary bridge between DNA endonuclease and topoisomerase.

    The EMBO journal·2000

    Area of Science:

    • Molecular Biology
    • Biochemistry
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • The Watson-Crick model describes DNA as primarily composed of Adenine-Thymine (A-T) and Guanine-Cytosine (G-C) base pairs.
    • Understanding DNA base pairing is crucial for comprehending DNA replication, repair, and mutation processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To extend the Watson-Crick concept of DNA base pairing to include a wider range of non-canonical pairs.
    • To explain the low frequency of these non-canonical base pairs in DNA.
    • To elucidate the role of these non-canonical base pairs in spontaneous mutations and the effects of mutagens.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized chemical considerations and molecular model building to propose extended base-pairing rules.
    • Investigated the tautomeric forms (imino, enol) and synisomers of DNA bases.
    • Applied a two-step DNA synthesis model (incorporation and checking) to explain base pair fidelity.

    Main Results:

    • Identified potential non-canonical DNA base pairs, including A-C, G-T, A-A, G-G, and G-A, through tautomerization and synisomerization.
    • Explained the rarity of these non-canonical pairs by their low occurrence frequency and the proofreading mechanism of DNA polymerase.
    • Linked the formation of non-canonical base pairs to the origin and characteristics of spontaneous substitution mutations.

    Conclusions:

    • The proposed extended base-pairing hypothesis provides a chemical basis for understanding DNA fidelity and mutation.
    • Non-canonical base pairing, though infrequent, is a key factor in spontaneous DNA mutations and their modulation by mutator alleles and base analogs.

    Related Experiment Videos