On the molecular basis of transition mutations. Frequency of forming 2-aminopurine-cytosine base mispairs in the G X C—-A X T mutational pathway by T4 DNA polymerase in vitro

Pan-cancer analyses and molecular subtypes based on the cancer-associated fibroblast landscape and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization reveal clinical outcome and immunotherapy response in epithelial ovarian cancer

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). These cells play a supportive role throughout cancer progression. Their ability to modulate the immune system has also been noted. However, there has been limited investigation of CAFs in the TME of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods

We comprehensively evaluated the CAF landscape and its association with gene alterations, clinical features, prognostic value, and immune cell infiltration at the pan-cancer level using multi-omic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The CAF contents were characterized by CAF scores based on the expression levels of seven CAF markers using the R package “GSVA.” Next, we identified the molecular subtypes defined by CAF markers and constructed a CAF riskscore system using principal component analysis in the EOC cohort. The correlation between CAF riskscore and TME cell infiltration was investigated. The ability of the CAF riskscore to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response was also examined.

Results

CAF components were involved in multiple immune-related processes, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, IL2-STAT signaling, inflammatory responses, and Interleukin (IL) 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling. Considering the positive correlation between CAF scores and macrophages, neutrophils, and mast cells, CAFs may exert immunosuppressive effects in both pan-cancer and ovarian cancer cohorts, which may explain accelerated tumor progression and poor outcomes. Notably, two distinct CAF molecular subtypes were defined in the EOC cohort. Low CAF riskscores were characterized by favorable overall survival (OS) and higher efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, 24 key genes were identified in CAF subtypes. These genes were significantly upregulated in EOC and showed a strong correlation with CAF markers.

Conclusions

Identifying CAF subtypes provides insights into EOC heterogeneity. The CAF riskscore system can predict prognosis and select patients who may benefit from immunotherapy. The mechanism of interactions between key genes, CAF markers, and associated cancer-promoting effects needs to be further elucidated.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of Immune Complement Signature C3/C5/C3AR1/C5AR1 in Association with Tumor Immune Evasion and Therapy Resistance

Despite the advances in our understanding of the genetic and immunological basis of cancer, cancer remains a major public health burden with an ever-increasing incidence rate globally. Nevertheless, increasing evidence suggests that the components of the complement system could regulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) to promote cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis. In the present study, we used an integrative multi-omics analysis of clinical data to explore the relationships between the expression levels of and genetic and epigenetic alterations in C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 and tumor immune evasion, therapy response, and patient prognosis in various cancer types. We found that the complements C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 have deregulated expression in human malignancies and are associated with activation of immune-related oncogenic processes and poor prognosis of cancer patients. Furthermore, we found that the increased expression levels of C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 were primarily predicted by copy number variation and gene methylation and were associated with dysfunctional T-cell phenotypes. Single nucleotide variation in the gene signature co-occurred with multiple oncogenic mutations and is associated with the progression of onco-immune-related diseases. Further correlation analysis revealed that C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 were associated with tumor immune evasion via dysfunctional T-cell phenotypes with a lesser contribution of T-cell exclusion. Lastly, we also demonstrated that the expression levels of C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 were associated with context-dependent chemotherapy, lymphocyte-mediated tumor killing, and immunotherapy outcomes in different cancer types. In conclusion, the complement components C3, C5, C3AR1, and C5AR1 serve as attractive targets for strategizing cancer immunotherapy and response follow-up.

Spectroscopic analysis of polymerization and exonuclease proofreading by a high-fidelity DNA polymerase during translesion DNA synthesis

High fidelity DNA polymerases maintain genomic fidelity through a series of kinetic steps that include nucleotide binding, conformational changes, phosphoryl transfer, polymerase translocation, and nucleotide excision. Developing a comprehensive understanding of how these steps are coordinated during correct and pro-mutagenic DNA synthesis has been hindered due to lack of spectroscopic nucleotides that function as efficient polymerase substrates. This report describes the application of a non-natural nucleotide designated 5-naphthyl-indole-2'-deoxyribose triphosphate which behaves as a fluorogenic substrate to monitor nucleotide incorporation and excision during the replication of normal DNA versus two distinct DNA lesions (cyclobutane thymine dimer and an abasic site). Transient fluorescence and rapid-chemical quench experiments demonstrate that the rate constants for nucleotide incorporation vary as a function of DNA lesion. These differences indicate that the non-natural nucleotide can function as a spectroscopic probe to distinguish between normal versus translesion DNA synthesis. Studies using wild-type DNA polymerase reveal the presence of a fluorescence recovery phase that corresponds to the formation of a pre-excision complex that precedes hydrolytic excision of the non-natural nucleotide. Rate constants for the formation of this pre-excision complex are dependent upon the DNA lesion, and this suggests that the mechanism of exonuclease proofreading is regulated by the nature of the formed mispair. Finally, spectroscopic evidence confirms that exonuclease proofreading competes with polymerase translocation. Collectively, this work provides the first demonstration for a non-natural nucleotide that functions as a spectroscopic probe to study the coordinated efforts of polymerization and exonuclease proofreading during correct and translesion DNA synthesis.

Induction of transition and transversion mutations during random mutagenesis PCR by the addition of 2-hydroxy-dATP

A 2-substituted purine nucleotide analog, 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), was added to a PCR mixture, to examine its mutagenic potential. The 2-OH-dATP enhanced the total mutation frequency. Interestingly, 2-OH-dATP induced both transition and transversion mutations, including A:T-->G:C, A:T-->C:G and G:C-->T:A mutations. In contrast, other 2-substituted purine nucleotide analogs, 2-aminopurine-2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate and 2-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate, did not affect the total mutation frequency. These results suggest that 2-OH-dATP is useful in random PCR mutagenesis for the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins, and for analyses of residues in these biomolecules.

Human deoxycytidine kinase as a conditional mutator in Escherichia coli

The chemical diversification of DNA precursors was undertaken in Escherichia coil by expressing the human gene for deoxycytidine kinase, and supplying such recombinant strains with nucleoside analogues bearing an altered base or sugar. Arabinocytidine and dideoxycytidine thus became highly toxic to E. coli in the sub-millimolar range. Deoxynucleosides bearing isoadenine (2-aminopurine) and isoguanine (2-hydroxy-6-aminopurine) showed a high mutagenic potency towards the recombinant strains, to an extent comparable to that of the most efficient mutator alleles (dnaQ). These findings open the way to the propagation of chemically remodelled nucleic acids and to the controlled hypermutagenesis of plasmids in vivo.

Human deoxycytidine kinase as a conditional mutator in Escherichia coli

The chemical diversification of DNA precursors was undertaken in Escherichia coli by expressing the human gene for deoxycytidine kinase, and supplying such recombinant strains with nucleoside analogues bearing an altered base or sugar. Arabinocytidine and dideoxycytidine thus became highly toxic to E. coli in the sub-millimolar range. Deoxynucleosides bearing isoadenine (2-aminopurine) and isoguanine (2-hydroxy-6-aminopurine) showed a high mutagenic potency towards the recombinant strains, to an extent comparable to that of the most efficient mutator alleles (dnaQ). These findings open the way to the propagation of chemically remodelled nucleic acids and to the controlled hypermutagenesis of plasmids in vivo.

Spectroscopic and calorimetric characterizations of DNA duplexes containing 2-aminopurine

The base analog 2-aminopurine (AP) strongly promotes A.T to G.C and G.C to A.T transitions in bacteria and bacteriophage. During DNA replication, the primary mutagenic event involves formation of a heteroduplex with an AP.C site at a much higher frequency than formation of the corresponding heteroduplex with an A.C site. It is not known if AP-induced mutagenesis correlates with differences in the thermodynamic properties of an AP.C versus an A.C site, or whether interactions involving DNA polymerases are controlling. To address this specific question, and more generally to characterize AP-containing duplexes, we have used a combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques to determine the thermodynamic properties of six 11-mer duplexes. The sequences of these duplexes are identical except for the identity of the variable central base pair which can be either A.T, A.C, AP.T, AP.C, AP.A, or AP.G, and which we use to designate each duplex. Analyses and interpretation of the optically and calorimetrically derived thermal and thermodynamic data on these six duplexes reveal the relative stabilizing influence of the central base pairs to be A.T > AP.T > AP.C > AP.A > AP.G > A.C, with the AP.C-containing duplex being significantly more stable than the A.C-containing duplex. In the aggregate, our results suggest that during incorporation, base pair discrimination by DNA polymerases is influenced, in part, by differences in the thermodynamic stabilities of the newly formed base pairs.

NMR study of the conformation of the 2-aminopurine:cytosine mismatch in DNA

DNA polymerase makes errors by misincorporating natural DNA bases and base analogs. Because of the wide variety of possible mismatches and the varying efficiency with which they are repaired, structural studies are necessary to understand in detail how these mispairs differ and can be distinguished from standard Watson-Crick base pairs. 2-Aminopurine (AP) is a highly mutagenic base analog. The objective of this study was to determine the geometry of the AP x C mispair in DNA at neutral pH. Although several studies have focused on the AP x C mispair in DNA, there is not as of yet consensus on its structure. At least four models have been proposed for this mispair. Through the use of NMR spectroscopy with selective 15N-labeling of exocyclic amino nitrogens on bases of interest, we are able to resolve ambiguities in previous studies. We find here that, in two different DNA sequences, the AP x C mispair at neutral and high pH is in a wobble geometry. The structure and stability of this base mispair is dependent upon the local base sequence.

Nucleoside and nucleobase analog mutagens

Compounds with structures close to those of normal nucleosides or nucleobases may be incorporated into cells and then become constituents of their DNA. Proliferation of such cells could yield mutants. In this article, the current status of studies on such nucleoside and nucleobase analogs is described. Base mispairing mechanisms for these analogs are discussed in light of recent biochemical and biophysical findings.

Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of sequence-dependent nucleotide excision by the 3'-exonuclease activity of bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase

The effects of local DNA sequence on the proofreading efficiency of wild-type T4 DNA polymerase were examined by measuring the kinetics of removal of the fluorescent nucleotide analog 2-aminopurine deoxynucleoside monophosphate (dAPMP) from primer/templates of defined sequences. The effects of (1) interactions with the 5'-neighboring bases, (2) base pair stability, and (3) G.C content of the surrounding sequences on the pre-steady-state kinetics of dAPMP excision were measured. Rates of excision dAPMP from a primer 3'-terminus located opposite a template T (AP.T base pair) increased, over a 3-fold range, with the 5'-neighbor to AP in the order C < G < T < A. Rates of removal of dAPMP from AP.X base pairs located in the same surrounding sequence increased as AP.T < AP.A < AP.C < AP.G, which correlates with the decrease in the stabilities of these base pairs predicted by Tm measurements. A key finding was that AP was excised at a slower rate when mispaired opposite C located next to four G.C base pairs than when correctly paired opposite T next to four A.T base pairs, suggesting that exonuclease mismatch removal specificities may be enhanced to a much greater extent by instabilities of local primer termini than by specific recognition of incorrect base pairs. In polymerase-initiated reactions, biphasic reaction kinetics were observed for the excision of AP within most but not all sequence contexts. Rates of the rapid phases (30-40 s-1) were relatively insensitive to sequence context. Rapid-phase rates reflect the rate constants for exonucleolytic excision of dAPMP from melted primer termini for both correct and incorrect base pairs and were roughly comparable to rates of removal of dAPMP from single-stranded DNA (65-80 s-1). Rates of the slow phases (3-13 s-1) were dependent on sequence context; the slow phase may reflect the rate of switching from the polymerase to the exonuclease active site, or perhaps the conversion of a primer/template terminus from an annealed to a melted state in the exonuclease active site. These data, using wild-type T4 DNA polymerase and two exonuclease-deficient T4 polymerases, support a model in which exonuclease excision occurs on melted primer 3'-termini for both mismatched and correctly matched primer termini, and where specificity favoring removal of terminally mismatched base pairs is determined by the much larger fraction of melted-out primer 3'-termini for mispairs compared to that for correct pairs.

Kinetic analysis of the coding properties of O6-methylguanine in DNA: the crucial role of the conformation of the phosphodiester bond

Production by N-nitroso compounds of O6-alkylguanine (O6-alkylG) in DNA directs the misincorporation of thymine during DNA replication, leading to G:C to A:T transition mutations, despite the fact that DNA containing O6-alkylG:T base pairs is less stable than that containing O6-alkylG:C pairs. We have examined the kinetics of incorporation by Klenow fragment (KF) of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I of thymine (T) and of cytosine (C) opposite O6-MeG in the template DNA strand. Both T and C were incorporated opposite O6-MeG much slower than nucleotides forming regular A:T or G:C base pairs. Using various concentrations of dTTP, dCTP, or their phosphorothioate (Sp)-dNTP alpha S analogues, or a mixture of dTTP and dCTP, the progress of incorporation of a single nucleotide in a single catalytic cycle of a preformed KF-DNA complex was measured (pre-steady-state kinetics). The results were consistent with the kinetic scheme (Kuchta, R. D., Benkovic, P., & Benkovic, S. J. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 6716-6725): (1) binding of dNTP to polymerase-DNA; (2) conformational change in polymerase; (3) formation of phosphodiester between the dNTP and the 3'-OH of the primer; (4) conformational change of polymerase; (5) release of pyrophosphate. The results were analyzed mathematically to identify the steps at which the rate constants differ significantly between the incorporation of T and C. The only significant difference was the 5-fold difference in the rates of formation of the phosphodiester bond (for dTTP, kforward = 3.9 s-1 and kback = 1.9 s-1; for dCTP, kforward = 0.7 s-1 and kback = 0.9 s-1). These pre-steady-state progress curves were biphasic with a rapid initial burst followed by an apparently steady-state rise. Deconvolution of these curves gave direct evidence for the importance of the conformational change after polymerization by showing that the curves represented the sum of the rapid accumulation of the product of step 3 followed by the slow conversion of that to the product of step 5 (because of the rapidity of the release of pyrophosphate there was no significant accumulation of the product of step 4). The equilibrium constants for each step suggest that the greatest change in the Gibbs free energy occurs at the conformational change after polymerization and that while the formation of the phosphodiester bond to T is slightly exothermic, that to C is slightly endothermic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biochemical basis of DNA replication fidelity

DNA polymerase is the critical enzyme maintaining genetic integrity during DNA replication. Individual steps in the replication process that contribute to DNA synthesis fidelity include nucleotide insertion, exonucleolytic proofreading, and binding to and elongation of matched and mismatched primer termini. Each process has been investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to resolve 32P-labeled primer molecules extended by polymerase. We describe how integrated gel band intensities can be used to obtain site-specific velocities for addition of correct and incorrect nucleotides, extending mismatched compared to correctly matched primer termini and measuring polymerase dissociation rates and equilibrium DNA binding constants. The analysis is based on steady-state "single completed hit conditions", where polymerases encounter many DNA molecules but where each DNA encounters an enzyme at most once. Specific topics addressed include nucleotide misinsertion, mismatch extension, exonucleolytic proofreading, single nucleotide discrimination using PCR, promiscuous mismatch extension by HIV-1 and AMV reverse transcriptases, sequence context effects on fidelity and polymerase dissociation, structural and kinetic properties of mispairs relating to fidelity, error avoidance mechanisms, kinetics of copying template lesions, the "A-rule" for insertion at abasic template lesions, an interesting exception to the "A-rule", thermodynamic and kinetic determinants of base pair discrimination by polymerases.

Qualitative differences in the spectra of genetic damage in 2-aminopurine-induced ad-3 mutants between nucleotide excision-repair-proficient and -deficient strains of Neurospora crassa

The mutagenic effects of 2-aminopurine (2AP) have been compared in the adenine-3 (ad-3) region of two-component heterokaryons of Neurospora crassa: nucleotide excision repair-proficient (uvs-2+/uvs-2+) heterokaryon 12 (H-12) and nucleotide excision repair-deficient (uvs-2/uvs-2) heterokaryon 59 (H-59). This forward-mutation, morphological and biochemical, specific-locus assay system permits the recovery of ad-3A and/or ad-3B mutants in 3 major classes: gene/point mutations, multilocus deletion mutations, and unknowns, and 3 different subclasses of multiple-locus mutations. Previous studies (Brockman et al., Mutation Res., 218 (1989) 1-11) showed that 2AP treatment of growing cultures of H-12 and H-59 gave no difference between ad-3 forward-mutation frequencies over a wide range of 2AP concentrations in each strain. In the present experiments, genetic analyses of ad-3 mutants recovered from these experiments has demonstrated qualitative differences between the spectra of the 3 main classes of ad-3 mutations. In H-12, 84.2% (203/241) resulted from gene/point mutation, 11.6% (28/241) from multilocus deletion mutation, and 4.1% (10/241) were unknowns. In contrast, in H-59, 43.0% (99/230) resulted from gene/point mutation, 55.7% (128/230) from multilocus deletion mutation, and 1.3% (3/230) were unknowns. In addition, quantitative differences were also found between the spectra of ad-3 mutations in 1 subclass of multiple-locus mutations, but not 2 additional subclasses. The first subclass consisted of 1.7% (4/241) and 9.6% (22/230) gene/point mutations with a closely linked recessive lethal mutation, in H-12 and H-59, respectively. The second two subclasses consisted of (a) 0.4% (1/241) and 0.4% (1/230) multilocus deletion mutations with a closely linked recessive lethal mutation, and (b) 13.3% (32/241) and 15.2% (35/230) gene/point mutations with a separate recessive lethal mutation elsewhere in the genome, in H-12 and H-59, respectively. Data from studies by others have shown that 2AP inhibits adenosine deaminase, resulting in nucleotide precursor pool inbalance, and that 2AP can saturate the mismatch repair system. As a consequence of either effect of 2AP, the spectrum of 2AP-induced mutation could include frameshift mutations and chromosome aberrations such as multilocus deletions in addition to base-pair substitutions. The defect in DNA repair due to the uvs-2 allele, which has been shown to be a deficiency in pyrimidine dimer excision (Worthy and Epler, 1974), most probably has some other excision-repair deficiency (Macleod and Stadler, 1986; Baker et al., 1991).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Mutagenicity of 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine at the tk locus in L5178Y strains differing in repair capabilities and karyotype

The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine (AHA) were measured in strains of L5178Y differing in repair capabilities and karyotype. Strain LY-R83 is monosomic for chromosome 11 and is therefore hemizygous for the tk gene, while strains LY-R16 and LY-S1 are TK+/- heterozygotes. Both strain LY-R83 and LY-R16 are sensitive to UV light and are presumed to be deficient in the excision of pyrimidine dimers as shown for the parental strain, LY-R (Hagen et al., 1988; Szumiel et al., 1988). Strain LY-S1 is sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation and is presumed to be defective in the repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks, as shown for the parental strain, LY-S (Evans et al., 1987a; Wlodek and Hittelman, 1987). The sensitivities of the three strains to the cytotoxic effects of AHA were similar. After a 4-hour treatment with AHA at 37 degrees C, the D37 for all three strains was approximately 35 ng/ml. The AHA-induced mutant frequency was similar for the hemizygous TK+ strain LY-R83 and the heterozygous TK +/- strain LY-R16, but was slightly higher for strain LY-S1 than for either LY-R strain at an AHA concentration of 100 ng/ml. The proportion of AHA-induced LY-S1 TK -/- mutants forming colonies with diameters less than 0.3 mm was much lower than following treatment with X radiation (24% vs. 61% for AHA and X radiation, respectively). These results indicate that the vast majority of AHA-induced TK -/- mutants harbor single gene mutations. AHA did not result in cyanide-insensitive oxygen uptake, and treatment with this compound did not induce a significant number of DNA single-strand breaks, DNA alkali labile lesions, or DNA degradation in either strain. However, two hours after AHA removal, DNA single-strand breaks and/or alkali-labile lesions, possibly due to the occurrence of DNA repair, were apparent in the DNA of both strain LY-R16 and strain LY-S1.

Dynamics of mismatched base pairs in DNA

The structural dynamics of mismatched base pairs in duplex DNA have been studied by time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements on a series of duplex oligodeoxynucleotides of the general type d[CGG(AP)GGC].d[GCCXCCG], where AP is the fluorescent adenine analogue 2-aminopurine and X = T, A, G, or C. The anisotropy decay is caused by internal rotations of AP within the duplex, which occur on the picosecond time scale, and by overall rotational diffusion of the duplex. The correlation time and angular range of internal rotation of AP vary among the series of AP.X mismatches, showing that the native DNA bases differ in their ability to influence the motion of AP. These differences are correlated with the strength of base-pairing interactions in the various AP.X mismatches. The interactions are strongest with X = T or C. The ability to discern differences in the strength of base-pairing interactions at a specific site in DNA by observing their effect on the dynamics of base motion is a novel aspect of the present study. The extent of AP stacking within the duplex is also determined in this study since it influences the excited-state quenching of AP. AP is thus shown to be extrahelical in the AP.G mismatch. The association state of the AP-containing oligodeoxynucleotide strand is determined from the temperature-dependent tumbling correlation time. An oligodeoxynucleotide triplex is formed with a particular base sequence in a pH-dependent manner.

Mutagenesis and deoxyribonucleotide pool imbalance

Numerous studies have demonstrated that DNA-precursor pool imbalances are mutagenic and can modulate the lethality and mutagenicity of DNA-damaging agents. In addition, physical and chemical mutagens can induce alterations in DNA-precursor levels. Such findings suggest that regulation of intracellular concentrations of DNA precursors may be an important factor in environmental mutagenesis. In this article, results linking mutation and disturbances in DNA-precursor pools are reviewed.

NMR studies on an oligodeoxynucleotide containing 2-aminopurine opposite adenine

A heteroduplex containing the mismatch 2-aminopurine (AP)-adenine has been synthesized and studied by proton NMR. The mismatch was incorporated into the sequence d[CGG(AP)GGC].d-(GCCACCG). One-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect measurements in H2O and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectra in D2O show AP.A base pairs in a wobble structure in which both bases are in the anti conformation. The adenine is stacked well in the helix, but the helix twist between the adenine and neighboring cytosine in the 3' direction is unusually small. As a result, the aminopurine on the opposite strand is somewhat pushed out of the helix. From the measurements of the imino proton line widths, the two adjacent G.C base pairs are not found to be significantly destabilized by the presence of the purine-purine wobble pair.

Proofreading of a mutagenic nucleotide, N4-aminodeoxycytidylic acid, by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I

N4-Aminodeoxycytidine triphosphate, a putative metabolite of N4-aminocytidine which is a potent mutagen, is incorporated, in vitro, into polynucleotides in place of dCTP and at a much lesser extent, but significantly, in place of dTTP by E. coli DNA polymerase I large fragment. The activity of the polymerase to proofread this unnatural nucleotide has now been investigated. The results indicate that the 3'-5' exonuclease in the polymerase recognizes N4-aminocytosine as an incorrect base when N4-aminocytosine is incorporated opposite adenine but the enzyme cannot distinguish N4-aminocytosine from cytosine when it is incorporated opposite guanine.

An explanation of the induction of mutations by 2-aminopurine from an ab initio molecular orbital study

The molecular mechanism of induction of mutations by 2-aminopurine (AP) was studied by an ab initio molecular orbital method. Cytosine (C) is converted to its disfavored imino tautomer more easily than AP, judging from the calculated total energies of the bases and the base analogue. This suggests that a stable AP:C base mispair via two hydrogen bonds can be formed with the imino tautomer of C. These results stress the importance of the imino form of C in AP-induced mutagenesis and support the 'trigger mechanism', in which formation of one hydrogen bond between AP and C is considered to stimulate the tautomeric shift of AP or C. The calculated relative stabilities of various base pairs and mispairs were in good agreement with experimental findings.