InterPro domain: IPR001126

In Escherichia coli, UV and many chemicals appear to cause mutagenesis by a process of translesion synthesis that requires DNA polymerase III and the SOS-regulated proteins UmuD, UmuC and RecA. This machinery allows the replication to continue through DNA lesion, and therefore avoid lethal interruption of DNA replication after DNA damage [ 1 ]. UmuC is a well conserved protein in prokaryotes, with a homologue in yeast species.

Proteins known to contain an UmuC domain are listed below:

• E. coli MucB protein. Plasmid-born analogue of the UmuC protein.
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) Rev1 protein. Homologue of UmuC also required for normal induction of mutations by physical and chemical agents.
• Salmonella typhimurium ImpB protein. Plasmid-born analogue of the UmuC protein.
• Bacterial UmuC protein.
• E. coli DNA-damage-inducible protein P (DinP).
• S. typhimurium SamB homologue of UmuC plasmid associated.

1. Mutagenesis and more: umuDC and the Escherichia coli SOS response. Genetics 148, 1599-610