title: Adaptive mutations, mutator DNA polymerases and genetic change strategies of pathogens.
abstract: "Adaptive" or "stationary-phase" mutation is a collection of stress responses promoting mutations, some of which are advantageous. In 2000 and 2001, in Escherichia coli, adaptive gene amplification was documented, and a parallel adaptive point-mutation mechanism was linked to the error-prone DNA polymerase, DinB (pol IV). We suggest that DinB homologues may contribute to adaptive strategies of pathogens, including antigenic variation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Room S809 Mail Stop 225, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019951:DNA Polymerase beta / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D017354:Point Mutation; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C094399:DinB protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D019951:DNA Polymerase beta