Flashcards on DNA Repair and Genetic Recombination

DNA Repair and Genetic Recombination: A Student's Guide

1 / 69

What protein in E. coli scans DNA to find base mismatches and binds tightly to them (except C–C mismatches)?

MutS

Tap to flip · Swipe to navigate

DNA repair

69 cards

Card 1

Question: What protein in E. coli scans DNA to find base mismatches and binds tightly to them (except C–C mismatches)?

Answer: MutS

Card 2

Question: Which proteins bind to MutS after it finds a mismatch and form a complex that slides along DNA?

Answer: MutL and MutH

Card 3

Question: What specific DNA sequence does the MutS/MutL/MutH complex look for before MutH is activated?

Answer: A hemimethylated GATC site

Card 4

Question: Which strand does MutH cleave when activated, and on which side of the G in GATC?

Answer: MutH cleaves the unmethylated daughter strand on the 5' side (upstream) of the G in GATC

Card 5

Question: After MutH cleavage, which helicase and what class of enzymes separate the strands and remove bases toward the mismatch?

Answer: Helicase II (UvrD) and specific exonucleases

Card 6

Question: Which protein protects the resulting single-stranded parent DNA during mismatch repair?

Answer: Single-strand binding protein (SSB)

Card 7

Question: If the mismatch lies on the 3' side of the nick (relative to the nick), which exonuclease removes bases?

Answer: The 5'→3' exonuclease RecJ removes the bases

Card 8

Question: If the mismatch lies on the 5' side of the nick, which exonucleases degrade the nicked strand and in which direction?

Answer: Exonucleases I and X degrade the nicked strand in the 3'→5' direction

Card 9

Question: Which exonuclease can act in either direction and replace RecJ, I, or X during mismatch repair?

Answer: Exonuclease VII (ambidirectional)

Card 10

Question: Which enzyme fills in the gap with new DNA during E. coli mismatch repair?

Answer: DNA polymerase III