title: Drosophila methyltransferase activity and the repair of alkylated DNA.
abstract: The biochemical mechanism and developmental expression for the repair of alkylated DNA has been characterized from Drosophila. As in other organisms, the correction of O6-methylguanine in Drosophila was found to involve the transfer of a methyl group from DNA to a protein cysteine residue. Two methylated proteins with subunit molecular weights of 30 kDa and 19 kDa were identified following incubation with [3H]-methylated substrate DNA and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Identical molecular weights were found for the unmethylated forms of protein through their reaction to an antibody prepared against the 19 kDa Escherichia coli methyltransferase. Both Drosophila proteins are serologically reactive in adult males and females and most of the other developmental stages tested, with embryos representing the possible exception. The Drosophila proteins do not appear to be induced by sublethal exposures to alkylating agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Guzder
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Deutsch
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; D004260:DNA Repair; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
chemical_list: D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D004247:DNA; D008780:Methyltransferases; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases