A Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Significant Overlap of Transcription and DNA Repair in Stationary Phase Yeast

The association between transcription and DNA repair is acknowledged as a player in the generation of mutations in a non-random fashion in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Previous studies demonstrated that the transcription complex is capable of directing DNA repair to sites of transcription. This process is especially important to growth-arrested cells, in which many DNA repair capacities are diminished; it may also lead to mutations preferentially in transcribed genes. Using microarray analysis of growth-arrested yeast cultures, we demonstrated on a genomic scale, the co-localization of a DNA-turnover marker, indicative of DNA-repair-associated DNA synthesis, with genes persistently transcribed during stationary phase. This may serve as a clue regarding the non-random manner in which non-dividing cells may potentially mutate in the absence of replication, solely as a result of their inherent, transcriptional stress response