MutT Protein, E.coli (His-SUMO)

MutT protein plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic integrity by specifically hydrolyzing both 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP) and 8-oxo-guanosine triphosphate (8-oxo-GTP) to their corresponding monophosphates. This enzymatic activity is crucial for preventing the misincorporation of 8-oxoGua into DNA and RNA, thereby ensuring the fidelity of nucleotide pools. MutT's ability to remove oxidatively damaged guanine, specifically 8-oxo-dGTP, from DNA and nucleotide pools prevents replicational errors, particularly A.T to G.C transversions. Additionally, MutT may contribute to transcriptional fidelity by cleaning up 8-oxo-GTP from the ribonucleotide triphosphate pool, although its impact on transcriptional fidelity is likely limited due to the lower efficiency of RNA polymerase in incorporating 8-oxo-GTP. Furthermore, MutT demonstrates versatility by hydrolyzing 8-oxo-dGDP and 8-oxo-GDP to their monophosphate forms and can, to a lesser extent, process various nucleoside di- and triphosphates. Collaborating with MutM and MutY, MutT acts cooperatively to prevent the accumulation of oxidized guanine residues in DNA, highlighting its essential role in maintaining the integrity of the genetic material.