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. 1978 Jan;133(1):75–80. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.1.75-80.1978

Single-strand breakage in DNA of Escherichia coli exposed to Cd2+.

R S Mitra, I A Bernstein
PMCID: PMC221978  PMID: 338598

Abstract

When a growing culture of Escherichia coli was exposed to 3 X 10(-6) M Cd2+, 85 to 95% of the cells lost their ability to form colonies on agar plates. Loss of viability was accompanied by considerable single-strand breakage in the DNA, with no detectable increase in double-strand breaks. A direct correlation appeared to exist between the number of single-strand breaks and the concentrations of Cd2+ to which the cells were exposed. Exposure of DNA in vitro to a Cd2+ concentration of 3 X 10(-6) M or higher, followed by sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients, demonstrated no single-strand breaks. Cadmium-exposed cells recovered viability when incubated in Cd2+-free liquid medium containing 10 mM hydroxyurea. During the early period of recovery, there was a lag in the incorporation of labeled thymidine, but cellular DNA, at least in part, appeared to be repaired.

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Selected References

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

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