Chemical modification of nucleic acids and the mutagenicity of modified bases, with special reference to permanganate- and bisulfite-mediated modifications

Abstract

Methods for modifying nucleic acids and their components with permanganate and with bisulfite are reviewed, with emphasis on work developed by the author's group of investigators. N(4)Aminocytidine, a nucleoside analog obtainable on bisulfite-hydrazine modification of cytidine, is a potent mutagen, and the mechanism of its action in the mutagenesis is discussed.