THE GENETICS OF THE REPAIR OF 5-AZACYTIDINE-MEDIATED DNA-DAMAGE IN THE FISSION YEAST SCHIZOSACCHAROMYCES-POMBE

We have recently demonstrated that Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells tre ated with the nucleoside analogue 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) require previ ously characterised G2 checkpoint mechanisms for survival. Here we pre sent a survey of known DNA repair mutations which defines those genes required for survival in the presence of 5-azaC. Using a combination o f single-mutant and epistasis analyses we find that the excision, mism atch and recombinational repair pathways are all required in some degr ee for the repair of 5-azaC-mediated DNA damage, There are distinct di fferences in the epistatic interactions of several of the repair mutat ions with respect to 5-azaC-mediated DNA damage relative to UV-mediate d DNA damage.