Restriction of carcinogen-induced error incorporation during in vitro DNA synthesis.

The in vitro accuracy of DNA replication has been investigated through the measurement of the frequency with which noncomplementary nucleotides were incorporated during polynucleotide replication. The effect of beta-propiolactone treatment of deoxynucleotide templates, ribopolynucleotide templates, and the DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus was determined. Treatment of the deoxynucleotide template, poly(dA) (see article) oligo(dT) 12-18, by beta-propiolactone resulted in an increased frequency of noncomplementary nucleotide incorporation during DNA polymerization. Carcinogen treatment of the ribonucleotide templates, poly(rA) (see article) oligo(dT) 12-18, and poly(rC) (see article) oligo(dG) 12-18, and carcinogen treatment of avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase did not alter the frequency of noncomplementary nucleotide incorporation. This suggested that carcinogen-induced error incorporation during DNA synthesis was restricted solely to the treatment of a deoxynucleotide template.