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  • DNA polymerase eta is an A-T mutator in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable genes.

DNA polymerase eta is an A-T mutator in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable genes.

Nature immunology (2001-05-29)
X Zeng, D B Winter, C Kasmer, K H Kraemer, A R Lehmann, P J Gearhart
ABSTRACT

To determine whether DNA polymerase eta plays a role in the hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable genes, we examined the frequency and pattern of substitutions in variable VH6 genes from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of three patients with xeroderma pigmentosum variant disease, whose polymerase eta had genetic defects. The frequency of mutation was normal but the types of base changes were different: there was a decrease in mutations at A and T and a concomitant rise in mutations at G and C. We propose that more than one polymerase contributes to hypermutation and that if one is absent, others compensate. The data indicate that polymerase eta is involved in generating errors that occur predominantly at A and T and that another polymerase(s) may preferentially generate errors opposite G and C.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Taq DNA Polymerase from Thermus aquaticus, with 10× PCR reaction buffer containing MgCl2
Sigma-Aldrich
Taq DNA Polymerase from Thermus aquaticus, with 10× PCR reaction buffer without MgCl2
Sigma-Aldrich
DNA Polymerase I from Escherichia coli lysogenic for NM 964, buffered aqueous glycerol solution