Mitotic recombination induced by chemical and physical agents in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Abstract

The treatment of diploid cultures of yeast with ultraviolet light (UV), γ-rays, nitrous acid (NA) and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) results in increases in cell death, mitotic gene conversion and crossing-over. Acridine orange (AO) treatment, in contrast, was effective only in increasing the frequency of gene conversion. The individual mutagens were effective in the order UV > NA > γ-rays > AO > EMS. Prior treatment of yeast cultures in starvation medium produced a significant reduction in the yield of induced gene conversion.

The results have been interpreted on the basis of a general model of mitotic gene conversion which involves the post-replication repair of induced lesions involving de novo DNA synthesis without genetic exchange. In contrast mitotic crossing-over appears to involve the action of a repair system independent from excision or post-replication repair which involves genetic exchange between homologous chromosomes.

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    Present address: P. J. Davies, Institut für Genetik der Universi tät zu Köln, 5 Köln 41 (W. Germany); W.E. Evans Welsh National School of Medicine, The Heat, Cardiff (Great Brittain).

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