Genetic effects of deoxyribonucleotide pool imbalances

Abstract

In vivo DNA precursor imbalances can have profound genetic consequences in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In vitro studies have demonstrated that DNA replication fidelity is dependent on correct balances of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates during DNA synthesis. These findings suggest that intracellular concentrations of DNA precursors may be regulated in order to minimize the frequency of genetic change. In addition, they indicate the existence of important nonDNA targets for the induction of mutation, recombination, chromosome aberrations, etc. In this article, the genetic effects of deoxyribonueleotide pool imbalances are reviewed.