Genetic studies of the lac repressor : IV. Mutagenic specificity in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli

An extensive set of amber and ochre sites in the lacI gene has been characterized with respect to the base change required to generate the nonsense codon (Miller et al., 1977; Coulondre & Miller, 1977). These mutations have been used to analyze the forward mutational spectrum of a series of mutagens in Escherichia coli. The sites induced by N′-methyl- N′-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine, ethyl methanesulfonate, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, and ultraviolet light, were examined, as well as those which arose spontaneously. Sites induced by the G · C → A · T transition were compared with those generated by 2-aminopurine mutagenesis. All together, more than 4000 independent occurrences of amber and ochre mutations were tabulated in order to define the respective mutagenic specificities. With the exception of the A · T → G · C change, all base substitutions lead to the generation of nonsense codons from wild-type. The A · T → G · C transition was monitored in a reversion system, in which the ochre to amber conversion (UAA → UAG) was scored, as well as the UAA → CAA reversion. Both NG ‡ ‡ Abbreviations used: NG, N′-methyl- N′-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine; EMS, ethyl methanesulfonate; NQO, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide; 2AP, 2-aminopurine. and EMS were found to be highly specific for the G · C → A · T transition, less than 1% transversions appearing in either case. At between 1% and 5% the level of the G · C → A · T change, NG can stimulate the A · T → G · C transition. EMS stimulates the A · T → G · C transition at a significantly lower rate. NQO is also highly specific for G · C base-pairs, but approximately 10% of the changes found at these sites are transversions. Mutations found spontaneously or after irradiation with ultraviolet light showed none of the specificities found for EMS, NG or NQO. All transversions were detected in both cases. Moreover, a significant number of tandem double base changes were found to be induced by u.v. irradiation. Some of these have been verified directly by protein sequencing. The frequencies of occurrence of amber and ochre mutations arising from the G · C → A · T transition have been compared for different mutagens, revealing several striking hotspots. The implications of these findings with respect to the mechanism of mutagenesis and the application of different mutagens are discussed.