The stalling of transcription at abasic sites is highly mutagenic

Abasic (AP) sites represent one of the most frequently formed lesions in DNA. Here, we examine the consequences of the stalling of RNA polymerase II at AP sites in DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A severe inhibition of transcription occurs in strains that are defective in the removal of AP sites and that also lack the RAD26 gene, a homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) gene, and, importantly, a dramatic rise in mutagenesis is incurred in such strains. From the various observations presented here, we infer that the stalling of transcription at AP sites is highly mutagenic.