Selective alkylation of nucleic acids by carcinogens may cause miscoding in DNA. A theoretical study.
The CNDO/II method was used to study the pairing abilities of various alkylated nucleic acids. On the basis of these results, a mechanism for mutation (carcinogenesis) is proposed. Our calculations suggest that O-(6) alkylated guanine and/or O-(4) alkylated thymine could cause miscoding during the replication of DNA.
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000478:Alkylation; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects; D005815:Genetic Code; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013941:Thymine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D006147:Guanine; D004247:DNA; D013941:Thymine