THE USE OF THIOGLYCOLLATE TO DEMONSTRATE DNA AP (APURINIC APYRIMIDINIC-SITE) LYASE ACTIVITIES - BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIOL ADDITION TO THE 5' PRODUCT OF A BETA-ELIMINATION REACTION AT AN AP SITE IN DNA
Thioglycollate reacts with the 5' product of AP lyase activity on apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites in DNA. The 3'-terminal thioglycollate-unsaturated sugar 5-phosphate adduct can be released by the use of Escherichia coli endonuclease IV or endonuclease VI, and identified by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. In contrast, the mammalian AP endonuclease is unable to excise a 3'-terminal thiol-unsaturated sugar adduct; this lesion, which must sometimes occur in vivo, might be irreparable and have pathological consequences.