Computational analyses show A-to-G mutations correlate with nascent mRNA hairpins at somatic hypermutation hotspots

Date

2006

Authors

Steele, Edward J
Lindley, Robyn A
Wen, Jiayu
Weiller, Georg

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) initiates Phase I somatic hypermutation (SHM) of antibody genes by deaminating deoxy-cytosine to deoxy-uracil (C-to-U). These lesions trigger Phase II, a poorly understood process of error-prone repair targeting A-T pairs by DNA polymerase η (Pol η). Since Pol η is also a reverse transcriptase, Phase II could involve copying off RNA as well as DNA templates. We explore this idea further since in an RNA-based pathway it is conceivable that adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing causes A-to-G transitions since I like G pairs with C. Adenosine deaminases (ADARs) are known to preferentially edit A nucleotides that are preceded by an A or U (W) in double-stranded RNA substrates. On this assumption and using a theoretical bioinformatics approach we show that a significant and specific correlation (P < 0.002) exists between the frequency of WA-to-WG mutations and the number of mRNA hairpins that could potentially form at the mutation site. This implies roles for both RNA editing and reverse transcription during SHM in vivo and suggests definitive genetic experiments targeting the appropriate ADAR1 isoform (γINF-ADAR1) and/or Ig pre-mRNA templates.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: adenosine; adenosine deaminase; adenosine deaminase 1; DNA directed DNA polymerase eta; DNA polymerase; double stranded RNA; guanosine; inosine; isoenzyme; messenger RNA; unclassified drug; uracil; article; base pairing; bioinformatics; correlation analys A-T targeted Phase II SHM; A-to-I RNA editing; ADAR1; DNA polymerase eta (-?); Ig somatic hypermutation; reverse transcription

Citation

Source

DNA Repair

Type

Journal article

Book Title

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2037-12-31