SPT4 functions in UV-induced mutagenesis of DNA repair gene defective yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

초록

Ultra violet (UV) light damages cell components and accelerate skin aging. Damaged cell components are replaced and repaired. Especially, damaged DNA repair is a pivotal factor that determines cell fate. Presence of damaged DNA causes cell cycle arrest. When DNA damage is successfully repaired, cells resume regular cell cycle. On the other hand, error-prone repair can causes mutations and cancerous cell formation. In order to insure sufficient time for damaged DNA repair, DNA replication and transcription are stalled. Previously, we reported that some of nucleotide excision repair related genes serve as transcription elongation factors, and the defect of the gene causes drastically increased spontaneous and MMS-induced mutagenesis. In this study, we characterized SPT4, a gene encoding NER-independent transcription elongation factor. We found that SPT4 expression is increased when a NER-related transcription elongation factor is defective. We discuss the possibility of SPT4 function in increased UV-induced mutagenesis of NER defective cells.