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. 1996 Feb;178(3):633–637. doi: 10.1128/jb.178.3.633-637.1996

Radioresistance of Deinococcus radiodurans: functions necessary to survive ionizing radiation are also necessary to survive prolonged desiccation.

V Mattimore 1, J R Battista 1
PMCID: PMC177705  PMID: 8550493

Abstract

Forty-one ionizing radiation-sensitive strains of Deinococcus radiodurans were evaluated for their ability to survive 6 weeks of desiccation. All exhibited a substantial loss of viability upon rehydration compared with wild-type D. radiodurans. Examination of chromosomal DNA from desiccated cultures revealed a time-dependent increase in DNA damage, as measured by an increase in DNA double-strand breaks. The evidence presented suggests that D. radiodurans' ionizing radiation resistance is incidental, a consequence of this organism's adaptation to a common physiological stress, dehydration.

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Selected References

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