Analysis of CoC12 Mutagenicity During In Vitro DNA Synthesis by Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase
EPA Grant Number: U915927Title: Analysis of CoC12 Mutagenicity During In Vitro DNA Synthesis by Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase
Investigators: Shivers, Rashida M.
Institution: Fayetteville State University
EPA Project Officer: Graham, Karen
Project Period: January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2003
Project Amount: $46,930
RFA: Minority Academic Institutions (MAI) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study (2001)
Research Category: Biology/Life Sciences , Fellowship - Natural and Life Sciences , Academic Fellowships
Description:
Objective:The objective of this research project is to analyze the mutagenic effects of cobalt (II) (CoCl2) cations on the fidelity of in vitro DNA synthesis using the M13mp2 LacZ -complementation assay.
Approach:The mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of metals and their compounds have attracted attention and been studied for a long time. Of special interest among several metals is cobalt. Results demonstrated that complete gap-filling synthesis was achieved in the presence of 0.05 mM to 0.6 mM CoC12. A 1.8-fold decrease in mutation frequency was observed at the 0.6 mM CoC12 concentration when compared to the control (0 mM). DNA sequence analysis revealed that error rates for base substitutions and 2-base deletions were decreased when compared with the control. Reversion assays demonstrated that there was a reduction in both base substitutions and frameshift mutations in the presence of CoC12. These data demonstrate that CoC12 induces an antimutagenic effect during DNA synthesis. However, the mechanism by which this effect occurs is still unclear.
Supplemental Keywords:fellowship, cobalt II, CoCl2, mutagenicity, DNA synthesis, DNA polymerase, antimutagenic effect, Escherichia coli.