Uncovering the polymerase-induced cytotoxicity of an oxidized nucleotide

Time--β bound to substrate DNA as it inserts 8-oxo-dGTP opposite either cytosine or adenine. Cell stress can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and genomic instability. One oxidation product, 8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G), can inappropriately base pair with adenine. It is therefore important to understand how DNA polymerase can utilize the cytotoxic 8-oxo-dGTP nucleotide during DNA synthesis. Samuel Wilson and colleagues...