Question

Yeast and some other organisms produce proteins that closely resemble -alkylguanine–DNA alkyltransferase but lack a Cys at the active site. (a) Explain why these proteins cannot remove an alkyl group attached to guanine. (b) These proteins do protect cells against DNA alkylation damage. In which type of repair process are these proteins most likely to participate?

Short answer

Yeast and other organisms produce certain proteins that resemble alkylguanine–DNA alkyltransferase.

Step-by-step solution

Alkyltransferase

This aids in the repair of direct DNA damage by base reversal of methylation. DNA alkyltransferase enzymes transfer the wrong ethyl or methyl group directly to cys residues. As a result, if residue is not there then no function will perform

Protein

Protein helps in the reversal of methylation base.