Cytosine deamination plays a primary role in the evolution of mammalian isochores

• Published in: Molecular biology and evolution Vol. 17; no. 9; pp. 1371 - 1383
• Main Authors: Fryxell, K J, Zuckerkandl, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2000
• Subjects: 5-Methylcytosine; Animals; Base Composition; Computer Simulation; CpG Islands - genetics; cytosine; Cytosine - analogs & derivatives; Cytosine - metabolism; Deamination; DNA - genetics; DNA - metabolism; Evolution, Molecular; Humans; isochores; Mammalia; Mammals - genetics; Mutation; Point Mutation

DNA melting is rate-limiting for cytosine deamination, from which we infer that the rate of cytosine deamination should decline twofold for each 10% increase in GC content. Analysis of human DNA sequence data confirms that this is the case for 5-methylcytosine. Several lines of evidence further conf...