Repair of AP sites in DNA

Abstract

Escherichia coli endonuclease VI is a deoxyribonuclease specific for AP (apurinic or apyrimidinic) sites; it cleaves the phosphodiester bond immediately neighbouring the AP site on its 5' side leaving 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate ends. DNA with AP sites can be repaired in vitro with endonuclease VI, DNA polymerase I and ligase; the repair mechanism is described. E. coli has other AP endonucleases; some of them are not specific for AP sites and some of them cut 3' to the AP sites. Most of the rat liver AP endonuclease activity is in chromatin. Some is however found in other cell compartments and it has been speculated that these enzymes might be precursors of the chromatin enzyme. The chromatin AP endonuclease is specific for AP sites; it cuts 5' to the AP site. DNA with AP sites can be repaired in vitro with enzymes purified from chromatin; AP endonuclease, 5'-3 exonuclease, DNA polymerase beta and ligase.