In vivo evidence that phenylalanine 171 acts as a molecular brake for translesion DNA synthesis across benzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts by human DNA polymerase κ.

Highlights: [•] Human cell lines that express a variant form of Pol κ (F171A) were established. [•] The cells exhibited lower mutation frequency toward benzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts. [•] Phenylalanine 171 is a molecular brake for the translesion DNA synthesis by Pol κ. [•] Pol κ is not well tuned to bypass benzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts. [•] The cognate substances for Pol κ may be lesions induced by endogenous mutagens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]