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Cytotoxicity and SOS-inducing ability of ethidium and photoactivable analogs on E. coli ethidium-bromide-sensitive (Ebs) strains.

In a recently-characterized ethidium-bromide-sensitive E. coli strain, DNA appears to be much more accessible to DNA-binding agents. This strain therefore appears to be of interest for studying the mutagenic properties of chemicals. For this purpose, a series of ethidium-sensitive E. coli strains (Ebs) with normal and defective DNA-repair capacity was constructed and made lysogenic for lambda (sfiA::lacZ). These strains were used to study the cytotoxicity and SOS-inducing ability of ethidium and its two photoactivable analogs 8-azido- and 3,8-diazido-ethidium. When non-covalent DNA complexes are formed, these dyes elicit only a bacteriostatic effect in the Ebs strains, which is almost independent of the strain's DNA-repair capacity. The SOS system is not induced. When covalent DNA adducts are formed after photoactivation of ethidium azido analogs, the effects are quite different. The formation of about 5 DNA monoadducts per cell induces a lethal hit in the Ebs uvrB recA strain and measurable SOS induction in the Ebs uvrB (lambda (sfiA::lacZ) strain. The formation of more than 1000 DNA adducts in the Ebs strain with normal DNA-repair capacity does not induce any measurable cytotoxic effect.

Azides↗

A bacterial strain for detecting agents that produce free radical-mediated DNA strand breaks.

In an E. coli strain carrying two mutations, one in the dnaC gene involved in initiation of DNA replication and another in the uvrB gene which affects the excision-repair system, it has been shown that the SOS response cannot be induced by UV. This is probably due to the absence of any inducing signal (Salles and Defais, 1984). The capacity to induce the SOS network was followed using RecA protein amplification as a probe. When breaks were produced in DNA, RecA protein induction was restored. We describe here a strain in which both RecA protein and beta-galactosidase from a sfiA::lacZ fusion can be measured simultaneously in the same bacterial extract. In conditions in which no replication proceeds, this strain can be used to detect the ability of chemicals to produce free radical-mediated DNA breaks in vivo.

Bleomycin↗

Presence of inducible DNA repair in Bacillus thuringiensis.

Weigle reactivation of ultraviolet-irradiated luminal diameter 8 bacteriophage was observed after ultraviolet treatment of Bacillus thuringiensis cells. A slight increased frequency of clear plaque mutants was detected among the survivors. The kinetics of induction of the phage reactivation and phage mutagenesis have been determined. The presence of chloramphenicol before and after irradiation abolished the induction of repair and mutagenesis. These experiments suggest that, in spite of the relatively small mutagenic response in bacteriophage progeny, B. thuringiensis has an inducible repair system responsible to the significant Weigle reactivation of irradiated phage.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

Induction of SOS and adaptive responses by alkylating agents in Escherichia coli mutants deficient in 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase activities.

The induction of SOS and adaptive responses by alkylating agents was studied in Escherichia coli mutants tagA and alkA deficient in 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase activities. The SOS response was measured using an sfiA::lacZ operon fusion. The sfiA operon, in the double mutant tagA alkA, is induced at 5-50-fold lower concentrations of all tested methylating and ethylating compounds, as compared to the wild-type strain. In all cases, the tagA mutation, which inactivates the constitutive and specific 3-alkyladenine-DNA glycosylase I (TagI), sensitizes the strain to the SOS response. The sensitization effect of alkA mutation, which inactivates the inducible 3-alkyladenine-DNA glycosylase II (TagII), is observed under conditions which allow the induction of the adaptive response. We conclude that the persistence of 3-methyladenine and 3-ethyladenine residues in DNA most likely leads to the induction of the SOS functions. In contrast, the adaptive response, evaluated by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity in cell extracts, was not affected by either tagA or alkA mutations. The results suggest that the SOS and adaptive responses use different alkylation products as an inducing "signal". However, adaptation protein TagII inhibits the induction of the SOS response to some extent, due to its action at the level of signal production. Finally, we provide conditions to improve short-term bacterial tests for the detection of genotoxic alkylating agents.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Induction of SOS responses in Escherichia coli by 5-fluorouracil.

The inducibility of SOS responses by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which has been used as an antitumor drug, was studied in Escherichia coli cells which have different DNA repair capacities for UV lesions. Expression of the umuC gene was apparently induced by 5-FU in the wild-type and uvrA strains, but not in lexA and recA strains. The inducibility of the umuC gene by 5-FU, the metabolite of which inhibits thymidylate synthetase, was abolished in cultures containing deoxythymidine monophosphate which is converted from deoxyuridine monophosphate by thymidylate synthetase. These results suggest that 5-FU may exert its SOS inducibility by inhibiting thymidylate synthetase and then disturbing DNA metabolism but not by incorporating 5-FU residues into RNA. Further, 5-FU weakly induced mutations in E. coli.

DNA Repair↗

Sodium arsenite inhibits spontaneous and induced mutations in Escherichia coli.

Sodium arsenite at a non-toxic concentration was found to inhibit strongly mutagenesis induced by ultraviolet light (UV), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), furylfuramide (AF-2) and methyl methane-sulfonate (MMS) as well as spontaneous mutation in the reversion assay of E. coli WP2uvrA/pKM101. The effect was not, however, seen in the case of the mutagenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). In order to elucidate the mechanism of the mutation-inhibitory effect of sodium arsenite, its action on umuC gene expression and DNA-repair systems was investigated. It was found that sodium arsenite depressed beta-galactosidase induction, corresponding to the umuC gene expression. For UV-irradiated E. coli strains possessing different DNA-repair capacities, sodium arsenite decreased the UV survival rates of WP2, WP2uvrA[uvrA] and WP67[uvrA polA], increased those of SOS-uninducible strains having either the recA+ or uvrA+ such as CM571 [recA], CM561 [lexA(Ind-)] and CM611[uvrA lexA (Ind-)], and did not affect that of the uvrA recA double mutant, WP100. From these results, we assume that sodium arsenite may have at least two roles in its antimutagenesis: as an inhibitor of umuC gene expression, and as an enhancer of the error-free repairs depending on the uvrA and recA genes.

Arsenic↗

SOS independent survival against mitomycin C induced lethality in a rifampicin-nalidixic acid-resistant mutant of Escherichia coli.

A combination of specific rifampicin-resistant (rpoB87) and nalidixic acid-resistant (gyrA87) mutations results in a marked increase in the survival of Escherichia coli against mitomycin C-induced lethality in mutants defective for SOS induction and excision repair. Although the response does not seem to be obligatorily dependent upon the RecA protein, the efficiency is markedly increased in its presence, even in a conventionally inactive form. This response is not elicited against lethality due to ultraviolet radiation or N-methyl-N' -nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine exposure. The combination of rpoB87 and gyrA87 mutations also greatly alleviates post-mitomycin C degradation of DNA under SOS non-inducible conditions. It is proposed that the rpoB subunit of RNA polymerase and gyrA subunit of DNA gyrase could participate in the repair of certain types of DNA damage, such as cross-links, in a mode independent of SOS-regulated excision repair and post-replication repair.

DNA Repair↗

An analysis of the mutagenicity of 1,2-dibromoethane to Escherichia coli: influence of DNA repair activities and metabolic pathways.

The mutagenicity of 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) to Escherichia coli was reduced by the UV light-induced excision repair system but unaffected by the loss of a major apurinic/apyrimidinic site repair function. At high doses, 70-90% of the EDB-induced mutations were independent of SOS-mutagenic processing and approximately 50% were independent of glutathione conjugation. The SOS-independent mutations induced by EDB were unaffected by the enzymes that repair alkylation-induced DNA lesions. EDB-induced base substitutions were dominated by GC to AT and AT to GC transitions. These results suggest that EDB-induced premutagenic lesions have some, but not all, of the characteristics of simple alkyl lesions.

Biotransformation↗

DNA repair in microgravity: studies on bacteria and mammalian cells in the experiments REPAIR and KINETICS.

The impact of microgravity on cellular repair processes was tested in the space experiments REPAIR and KINETICS, which were performed during the IML-2 mission in the Biorack of ESA: (a) survival of spores of Bacillus subtilis HA101 after UV-irradiation (up to 340 J m-2) in the experiment REPAIR; (b) in the experiment KINETICS the kinetics of DNA repair in three different test systems: rejoining of X-ray-induced DNA strand breaks (B1) in cells of Escherichia coli B/r (120 Gy) and (B2) in human fibroblasts (5 and 10 Gy) as well as (B3) induction of the SOS response after gamma-irradiation (300 Gy) of cells of Escherichia coli PQ37. Cells were irradiated prior to the space mission and were kept in a non-metabolic state (metabolically inactive spores of B. subtilis on membrane filters, frozen cells of E. coli and human fibroblasts) until incubation in orbit. Germination and growth of B. subtilis were initiated by humidification, E. coli and fibroblasts were thawed up and incubated at 37 degrees C for defined repair periods (up to 4.5 h), thereafter they were frozen again for laboratory analysis. Relevant controls were performed in-flight (1 x g reference centrifuge) and on ground (1 x g and 1.4 x g) The results show no significant differences between the microgravity samples and the corresponding controls neither in the survival curves nor in the kinetics of DNA strand break rejoining and induction of the SOS response (proven by Student's t-test, 2 P = 0.05). These observations provide evidence that in the microgravity environment cells are able to repair radiation-induced DNA damage close to normality. The results suggest that a disturbance of cellular repair processes in the microgravity environment might not be the explanation for the reported synergism of radiation and microgravity.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Mutagenic effects of heavy ions in bacteria.

The peculiarities and mechanisms of the mutagenic action of gamma-rays and heavy ions on bacterial cells have been investigated. Direct mutations in the lac-operon of E. coli in wild type cells and repair deficient strains have been detected. Furthermore, the induction of revertants in Salmonella tester strains was measured. It was found that the mutation rate was a linear-quadratic function of dose in the case of both gamma-rays and heavy ions with LET up to 200 keV/micrometer. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) increased with LET up to 20 keV/micrometer. Low mutation rates were observed in repair deficient mutants with a block of SOS-induction. The induction of SOS-repair by ionizing radiation has been investigated by means of the "SOS-chromotest" and lambda-prophage induction. It was shown that the intensity of the SOS-induction in E. coli increased with increasing LET up to 40-60 keV/micrometer.

Alpha Particles↗

Mutagenic effects of heavy ions in bacteria.

Various mutagenic effects by heavy ions were studied in bacteria, irradiated at accelerators in Dubna, Prague, Berkeley or Darmstadt. Endpoints investigated are histidine reversion (B. subtilis, S. typhimurium), azide resistance (B. subtilis), mutation in the lactose operon (E. coli), SOS chromotest (E. coli) and lambda-prophage induction (E. coli). It was found that the cross sections of the different endpoints show a similar dependence on energy. For light ions (Z < or = 4) the cross section decreases with increasing energy. For ions of Z = 10, it is nearly independent of energy. For heavier ions (Z > or = 26) it increases with energy up to a maximum or saturation. The increment becomes steeper with increasing Z. This dependence on energy suggests a "mutagenic belt" inside the track that is restricted to an area where the density of departed energy is low enough not to kill the cell, but high enough to induce mutations.

Azides↗

Multiple mechanisms of resistance to cisplatin toxicity in an Escherichia coli K12 mutant.

The mechanisms underlying cellular resistance to the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II) (CDDP) were studied in Escherichia coli K12. A bacterial strain (MC4100/DDP) was selected from the MC4100 wild-type strain after growth for four cycles in CDDP. MC4100/DDP bacteria showed a high level of resistance and exhibited various modifications including (1) a decrease in drug uptake and platinum/DNA binding which only partly contributed to resistance, (2) an increase in glutathione content not involved in the resistant phenotype, (3) an increase in DNA repair capacity. Resistance was unmodified by introducing a uvrA mutation which neutralizes the excision-repair pathway. In contrast, it was abolished by deletion of the recA gene which abolishes recombination and SOS repair but also by a mutation in the recA gene leading to RecA co-protease minus (no SOS induction). RecA protein was unchanged in MC4100/DDP but the expression of RecA-dependent gene(s) was required for CDDP resistance. The regulation of genes belonging to the SOS regulon was analysed in MC4100/DDP by monitoring the expression of sfiA and recA::lacZ gene fusions after UV irradiation. These gene fusions were derepressed faster and the optimal expression was obtained for a lower number of UV lesions in MC4100/DDP, suggesting a role of RecA co-protease activity in the mechanism of resistance to CDDP in this E. coli strain.

Cisplatin↗

UV induction of LexA independent proteins which could be involved in SOS repair.

The SOS response is induced in E coli following treatments that interfere with DNA replication. The response is under the control of the recA and the lexA genes. Strains defective in LexA repressor constitutively express SOS proteins. However, SOS repair does not reach its maximum level in these strains. Instead, an activation of RecA protein and de novo protein synthesis are required for full repair. We have analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis the induction of proteins after UV irradiation of lexA(Def) bacteria. Proteins which might participate in SOS repair are induced under these conditions.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mechanism of specific LexA cleavage: autodigestion and the role of RecA coprotease.

Specific LexA cleavage can occur under two different conditions: RecA-mediated cleavage requires an activated form of RecA, while an intramolecular self-cleavage termed autodigestion proceeds spontaneously at high pH and does not involve RecA. The two cleavage reactions are closely related. We postulate that RecA stimulates autodigestion rather than acting as a typical protease, and it is proposed to term this activity 'RecA coprotease' to emphasize this indirect role. The mechanism of autodigestion is similar to that of a serine protease, and RecA appears to act by reducing the pKa of a critical lysine residue LexA. A new class of mutants, termed lexA (IndS), is described; these mutations increase the rate of LexA cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

SOS-inducible DNA polymerase II of E coli is homologous to replicative DNA polymerase of eukaryotes.

The polB gene of Escherichia coli encodes DNA polymerase II whose role in vivo is not defined. The polB gene has been cloned and shown to be identical to a DNA damage-inducible gene dinA which is regulated by the LexA repressor. Nucleotide sequencing of polB reveals that E coli DNA polymerase II is highly homologous to replicative DNA polymerases of eukaryotes which include human DNA polymerase alpha and Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerases I, II and III. The polB gene is not required for growth, UV-repair and UV-mutagenesis.

Base Sequence↗

Substitution of UmuD' for UmuD does not affect SOS mutagenesis.

In order to study the role of UmuDC proteins in SOS mutagenesis, we have constructed new Escherichia coli K-12 strains to avoid i) over-production of Umu proteins, ii) the formation of unwanted mixed plasmid and chromosomal Umu proteins upon complementation. We inserted a mini-kan transposon into the umuD gene carried on a plasmid. The insertion at codon 24 ends protein translation and has a polar effect on the expression of the downstream umuC gene. We transferred umuD24 mutation to the E coli chromosome. In parallel, we subcloned umuD+ umuC+ or umuD' umuC+ genes into pSC101, a low copy number plasmid. In a host with the chromosomal umuD24 mutation, plasmids umuD+ umuC+ or umuD' umuC+ produced elevated resistance to UV light and increased SOS mutagenesis related to a gene dosage of about 3. UV mutagenesis was as high in umuD' umuC+ hosts devoid of UmuD+ protein as in umuD+ umuC+ hosts. UmuD' protein, the maturated form of UmuD, can substitute for UmuD in SOS mutagenesis.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A RecA protein mutant deficient in its interaction with the UmuDC complex.

recA1730 is a dominant point mutation preventing SOS mutagenesis. We demonstrate here that: i) RecA1730 fails to produce mutagenesis even though UmuD' is formed, ii) recA1730, when complemented by recA+, can cleave LexA protein and it displays a UmuDC- phenotype in spite of adequate concentrations of matured UmuD' and UmuC proteins, iii) the Mut- phenotype caused by RecA1730 is partially alleviated by MucAB proteins, functional analogs of UmuDC. To explain the mutant phenotype, we postulate that recA1730 impairs a RecA function required for the positioning of the UmuD'C complex within the replisome at the site of lesions.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Influence of recA mutations on gyrA dependent quinolone resistance.

We examined, in Escherichia coli, the influence of recA mutant alleles on the level of quinolone resistance promoted by mutations in the gyrA gene. We found that the recA142 mutation, abolishing all the activities of RecA protein, greatly reduced the level of resistance to the quinolone ciprofloxacin, whereas the recA430 allele affecting the SOS inducing ability of RecA, reduced ciprofloxacin resistance to a lesser extent. The recA142 mutation did not cause enhancement of ciprofloxacin induced DNA breakage in gyrA mutants, indicating that the stabilization of DNA-gyrase complexes by the quinolone is not influenced by a RecA mutant protein. We suggest that RecA protein plays a role in the repair of quinolone damage, principally through a recombinational mechanism and, to a lesser degree, through the induction of the SOS response.

DNA Repair↗