Biopolymers and cell. 2007; 23 (3): 155 - 167

The updated picture of spontaneous mutagenesis could involve DNA bases tautomerism.

E. I. Cherepenko, D. M. Hovorun

Based on the data on activation of many molecular processes during cell functioning under different conditions the multitudinous sources of spontaneous mutations are briefly summarized. The mechanisms of different class mutation emergence as well as possible mechanisms regulating mutation rates are characterized. As the level of dNTP pool is significantly elevated in genotoxically stressed cells, leading to an increased number of mutations appearing, it is proposed that this effect could be accounted for DNA bases tautomerism occurring in tight molecular space overcrowded with dNTP. The mutation rate could be controlled by regulating the dNTP concentration.

Keywords: spontaneous mutagenesis, DNA bases tautomerism, level of intracellular of dNTP.