title: Mismatch repair in mammalian cells.
abstract: A vital process in maintaining a low genetic error rate is the removal of mismatched bases in DNA. The importance of this process in E. coli is demonstrated by the 100-1000 fold increase in mutation frequency observed in cells deficient in this repair system. Mismatches can arise as a consequence of recombination, errors in replication and as a result of spontaneous chemical deamination, the latter process resulting in an estimated twelve T:G mismatches per genome per day in mammalian cells. Recent studies, discussed here, provide evidence for the existence of specific mismatch repair systems in mammalian and human cells.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge University Department of Pathology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Heywood
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004260:DNA Repair; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics