Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1993 Feb;59(2):640–643. doi: 10.1128/aem.59.2.640-643.1993

Dipicolinic Acid Greatly Enhances Production of Spore Photoproduct in Bacterial Spores upon UV Irradiation

Barbara Setlow 1, Peter Setlow 1,*
PMCID: PMC202161  PMID: 16348882

Abstract

Formation of the spore photoproduct (SP) (5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine) in DNA of dormant spores of Bacillus subtilis upon UV irradiation is due to binding of α/β-type small, acid-soluble proteins (SASP). However, the yield of SP as a function of UV fluence is ∼15-fold higher in spores than in an α/β-type-SASP-DNA complex in vitro. The yield of SP as a function of UV fluence in forespore DNA from mutants which make α/β-type SASP but not dipicolinic acid (DPA) was 10 to 20 times lower than that in dormant spores. Furthermore, the yield of SP as a function of UV fluence in an α/β-type-SASP-DNA complex in vitro was increased sixfold by DPA. These data provide further support for the idea that the high DPA level in dormant spores increases the yield of SP as a function of UV fluence and thereby sensitizes spores to UV.

Full text

PDF
640

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baillie E., Germaine G. R., Murrell W. G., Ohye D. F. Photoreactivation, photoproduct formation, and deoxyribonucleic acid state in ultraviolet-irradiated sporulating cultures of Bacillus cereus. J Bacteriol. 1974 Oct;120(1):516–523. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.1.516-523.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Errington J., Cutting S. M., Mandelstam J. Branched pattern of regulatory interactions between late sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1988 Feb;170(2):796–801. doi: 10.1128/jb.170.2.796-801.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Germaine G. R., Coggiola E., Murrell W. G. Development of ultraviolet resistance in sporulating Bacillus cereus T. J Bacteriol. 1973 Nov;116(2):823–831. doi: 10.1128/jb.116.2.823-831.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Germaine G. R., Murrell W. G. Effect of dipicolinic acid on the ultraviolet radiation resistance of Bacillus cereus spores. Photochem Photobiol. 1973 Mar;17(3):145–153. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1973.tb06344.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Germaine G. R., Murrell W. G. Use of ultraviolet radiation to locate dipicolinic acid in Bacillus cereus spores. J Bacteriol. 1974 Apr;118(1):202–208. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.1.202-208.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Mason J. M., Hackett R. H., Setlow P. Regulation of expression of genes coding for small, acid-soluble proteins of Bacillus subtilis spores: studies using lacZ gene fusions. J Bacteriol. 1988 Jan;170(1):239–244. doi: 10.1128/jb.170.1.239-244.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mason J. M., Setlow P. Essential role of small, acid-soluble spore proteins in resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores to UV light. J Bacteriol. 1986 Jul;167(1):174–178. doi: 10.1128/jb.167.1.174-178.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Nicholson W. L., Setlow B., Setlow P. Ultraviolet irradiation of DNA complexed with alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble proteins from spores of Bacillus or Clostridium species makes spore photoproduct but not thymine dimers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Oct 1;88(19):8288–8292. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.19.8288. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Sanchez-Salas J. L., Santiago-Lara M. L., Setlow B., Sussman M. D., Setlow P. Properties of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis mutants which lack the protease that degrades small, acid-soluble proteins during spore germination. J Bacteriol. 1992 Feb;174(3):807–814. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.3.807-814.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Setlow B., Setlow P. Thymine-containing dimers as well as spore photoproducts are found in ultraviolet-irradiated Bacillus subtilis spores that lack small acid-soluble proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Jan;84(2):421–423. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.2.421. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Setlow P. DNA in dormant spores of Bacillus species is in an A-like conformation. Mol Microbiol. 1992 Mar;6(5):563–567. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1992.tb01501.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES