Is Tautomeric Shift Mutation?

IMPORTANT: Note that a tautomeric shift is not itself a mutation, but a transient change to an alternative form of the molecule.

What type of mutations are caused by tautomeric shifts of nitrogenous bases?

transition mutation - change of one purine/pyrimidine pair to the other purine/pyrimidine pair. This can happen when one base member of a complementary pair undergoes a tautomeric shift during DNA replication, causing it to mispair.

How does tautomerism cause mutations?

Mutation by tautomeric shifts in the bases of DNA. (a) In the example diagrammed, a guanine undergoes a tautomeric shift to its rare enol form (G*) at the time of replication. (b) In its enol form, it pairs with thymine.

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

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