Novel DNA Polymerases and Novel Genotoxicity Assays

Abstract

Human genome is continuously exposed to exogenous and endogenous genotoxic agents. The most hazardous and ubiquitous exogenous mutagen may be cigarette smoke, which contains more than 4,000 chemicals including about 60 known carcinogens. About 1% of oxygen metabolism leads to production of reactive oxygen species, a major source of endogenous mutagens. These genotoxic agents induce a variety of lesions in DNA, which results in mutations and chromosome aberrations upon replication. If such genetic alterations occurred in the genes involved in cell proliferations and/or maintenance of genome stability, the cells would proceed in multi-steps of carcinogenesis. The goal of environmental mutagenesis and genetic toxicology is to elucidate the mechanistic links between exposure to genotoxic agents and the health consequences, and to prevent the health hazard associated with DNA damage. To this end, we have investigated the mechanisms of mutagenesis induced by environmental chemicals and contributed to establish the paradigm that Y-family DNA polymerases play central roles in mutagenesis via translesion DNA synthesis across damaged bases in DNA. We also developed genotoxicity assays with bacteria and mice to evaluate the potential risk of environmental chemicals. Here, I review the roles of Y-family DNA polymerases in mutagenesis and introduce features of the novel bacterial and rodent genotoxicity assays. Future directions of environmental mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are also discussed.