Expression of the E. coli O6-methylguanine-methylphosphotriester methyltransferase gene in mammalian cells.

Many prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells contain enzymes that repair damage introduced into their DNA following exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents. One such lesion that has received considerable attention is the potentially miscoding and mutagenic base O6-alkylguanine which is produced in varying amounts in DNA following reaction with monofunctional alkylating agents. As part of a study to assess the role of this lesion and its repair in the processes of cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and transformation, we have recently cloned the Escherichia coli gene which codes for the protein responsible for the repair of such damage in DNA. In the present study we describe the construction of a plasmid which allows the efficient expression of the bacterial gene in mammalian cells.