Genome-wide mapping of spontaneous DNA replication error-hotspots using mismatch repair proteins in rapidly proliferating Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Fidelity of DNA replication is crucial for the accurate transmission of genetic information across generations, yet errors still occur despite multiple control mechanisms. This study investigated the factors influencing spontaneous replication errors across the Escherichia coli genome. We detected errors using the MutS and MutL mismatch repair proteins in rapidly proliferating mutH-deficient cells, where errors can be detected but not corrected. Our findings reveal that replication error hotspots are non-randomly distributed along the chromosome and are enriched in sequences with distinct features: lower thermal stability facilitating DNA strand separation, mononucleotide repeats prone to DNA polymerase slippage and sequences prone to forming secondary structures like cruciforms and G4 str

SUBMITTER: Hasenauer FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11754648 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature