Background: Proteins are often covalently trapped on DNA by DNA damaging agents, forming DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs). Results: T7 RNA polymerases back up by DPCs and generate extensive mutations upstream of DPCs. Conclusion: Backed up T7 RNA polymerases catalyze damage-independent highly error prone transcription. Significance: Transcriptional fidelity may differ significantly between smoothly traveling and roadblocked RNA polymerases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.