Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1977 Aug;131(2):572–582. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.572-582.1977

Characterization of lexB mutations in Escherichia coli K-12.

P Morand, M Blanco, R Devoret
PMCID: PMC235466  PMID: 328486

Abstract

Two mutations have been located at the recA locus and phenotypically characterized along with a third one, previously called rec-34. The three mutants behaved similarly to lexA mutants. They were sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and X rays, and lambdaFec- phages were able to plate on them. The three mutations were called lexB because they could be distinguished from recA mutations by the last property. lexB mutants were less sensitive to UV and X irradiations than were recA mutants and were, to various degrees, recombination proficient. UV light failed to induce prophage lambda in all three lexB lysogens. In contrast, thymine starvation induced lexB31 and lexB34 lysogens. In lexB34 mutants, but not in lexB30 and lexB31 mutants, UV reactivation occurred at a low level. In Escherichia coli K-12, the recA gene has basic functions in the repair of deoxyribonucleic acid lesions, deoxyribonucleic acid recombination, and prophage induction. The three lexB mutations alter unequally and independently the three functions. This suggests that the recA and lexB mutations affect the same gene.

Full text

PDF
572

Selected References

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

  1. ARBER W. Transduction of chromosomal genes and episomes in Escherichia coli. Virology. 1960 May;11:273–288. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(60)90066-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bachmann B. J., Low K. B., Taylor A. L. Recalibrated linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriol Rev. 1976 Mar;40(1):116–167. doi: 10.1128/br.40.1.116-167.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bachmann B. J. Pedigrees of some mutant strains of Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):525–557. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.525-557.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Blanco M., Devoret R. Repair mechanisms involved in prophage reactivation and UV reactivation of UV-irradiated phage lambda. Mutat Res. 1973 Mar;17(3):293–305. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(73)90001-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bonhoeffer F. DNA transfer and DNA synthesis during bacterial conjugation. Z Vererbungsl. 1966;98(2):141–149. doi: 10.1007/BF00897186. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CLARK A. J., MARGULIES A. D. ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RECOMBINATION-DEFICIENT MUTANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI K12. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1965 Feb;53:451–459. doi: 10.1073/pnas.53.2.451. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Castellazzi M., George J., Buttin G. Prophage induction and cell division in E. coli. I. Further characterization of the thermosensitive mutation tif-1 whose expression mimics the effect of UV irradiation. Mol Gen Genet. 1972;119(2):139–152. doi: 10.1007/BF00269133. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Castellazzi M., George J., Buttin G. [Prophage induction and cell division in E. coli. II. Linked (recA, zab) and unlinked (lex) suppressors of tif-1-mediated induction and filamentation]. Mol Gen Genet. 1972;119(2):153–174. doi: 10.1007/BF00269134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Clark A. J. Recombination deficient mutants of E. coli and other bacteria. Annu Rev Genet. 1973;7:67–86. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ge.07.120173.000435. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Clark A. J. The beginning of a genetic analysis of recombination proficiency. J Cell Physiol. 1967 Oct;70(2 Suppl):165–180. doi: 10.1002/jcp.1040700412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Defais M., Caillet-Fauquet P., Fox M. S., Radman M. Induction kinetics of mutagenic DNA repair activity in E. coli following ultraviolet irradiation. Mol Gen Genet. 1976 Oct 18;148(2):125–130. doi: 10.1007/BF00268375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Defais M., Fauquet P., Radman M., Errera M. Ultraviolet reactivation and ultraviolet mutagenesis of lambda in different genetic systems. Virology. 1971 Feb;43(2):495–503. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(71)90321-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Demerec M., Adelberg E. A., Clark A. J., Hartman P. E. A proposal for a uniform nomenclature in bacterial genetics. Genetics. 1966 Jul;54(1):61–76. doi: 10.1093/genetics/54.1.61. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Devoret R., Blanco M., George J., Radman M. Recovery of phage lambda from ultraviolet damage. Basic Life Sci. 1975;5A:155–171. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-2895-7_20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Devoret R., George J. Induction indirecte du prophage lambda par le rayonnement ultraviolet. Mutat Res. 1967 Nov-Dec;4(6):713–734. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(67)90081-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Fuerst C. R., Siminovitch L. Characterization of an unusual defective lysogenic strain of Escherichia coli K-12(lambda). Virology. 1965 Nov;27(3):449–451. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(65)90131-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. George J., Devoret R., Radman M. Indirect ultraviolet-reactivation of phage lambda. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Jan;71(1):144–147. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.1.144. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Gudas L. J., Pardee A. B. Model for regulation of Escherichia coli DNA repair functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Jun;72(6):2330–2334. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.6.2330. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hane M. W., Wood T. H. Escherichia coli K-12 mutants resistant to nalidixic acid: genetic mapping and dominance studies. J Bacteriol. 1969 Jul;99(1):238–241. doi: 10.1128/jb.99.1.238-241.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hertman I., Luria S. E. Transduction studies on the role of a rec+ gene in the ultraviolet induction of prophage lambda. J Mol Biol. 1967 Jan 28;23(2):117–133. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(67)80021-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Howard-Flanders P., Boyce R. P. DNA repair and genetic recombination: studies on mutants of Escherichia coli defective in these processes. Radiat Res. 1966;(Suppl):156+–156+. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Ikeda H., Tomizawa J. I. Transducing fragments in generalized transduction by phage P1. I. Molecular origin of the fragments. J Mol Biol. 1965 Nov;14(1):85–109. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(65)80232-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Inouye M. Pleiotropic effect of the rec A gene of Escherichia coli: uncoupling of cell division from deoxyribonucleic acid replication. J Bacteriol. 1971 May;106(2):539–542. doi: 10.1128/jb.106.2.539-542.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. KAISER A. D., JACOB F. Recombination between related temperate bacteriophages and the genetic control of immunity and prophage localization. Virology. 1957 Dec;4(3):509–521. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(57)90083-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Kirby E. P., Jacob F., Goldthwait D. A. Prophage induction and filament formation in a mutant strain of Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 Nov;58(5):1903–1910. doi: 10.1073/pnas.58.5.1903. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Lloyd R. G., Low B. Some genetic consequences of changes in the level of recA gene function in Escherichia coli K-12. Genetics. 1976 Dec;84(4):675–695. doi: 10.1093/genetics/84.4.675. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Low K. B. Escherichia coli K-12 F-prime factors, old and new. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):587–607. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.587-607.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Monk M., Kinross J. Conditional lethality of recA and recB derivatives of a strain of Escherichia coli K-12 with a temperature-sensitive deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase I. J Bacteriol. 1972 Mar;109(3):971–978. doi: 10.1128/jb.109.3.971-978.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Moreau P., Bailone A., Devoret R. Prophage lambda induction of Escherichia coli K12 envA uvrB: a highly sensitive test for potential carcinogens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Oct;73(10):3700–3704. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.10.3700. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Mount D. W., Low K. B., Edmiston S. J. Dominant mutations (lex) in Escherichia coli K-12 which affect radiation sensitivity and frequency of ultraviolet lght-induced mutations. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):886–893. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.886-893.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Pollard E. C., Randall E. P. Studies on the inducible inhibitor of radiation-induced DNA degradation of Escherichia coli. Radiat Res. 1973 Aug;55(2):265–279. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Radman M., Cordone L., Krsmanovic-Simic D., Errera M. Complementary action of recombination and excision in the repair of ultraviolet irradiation damage to DNA. J Mol Biol. 1970 Apr 14;49(1):203–212. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(70)90386-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Rupp W. D., Wilde C. E., 3rd, Reno D. L., Howard-Flanders P. Exchanges between DNA strands in ultraviolet-irradiated Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol. 1971 Oct 14;61(1):25–44. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(71)90204-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. STACEY K. A., SIMSON E. IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE ISOLATION OF THYMINE-REQUIRING MUTANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI. J Bacteriol. 1965 Aug;90:554–555. doi: 10.1128/jb.90.2.554-555.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Stouthamer A. H., de Haan P. G., Nijkamp H. J. Mapping of purine markers in Escherichia coli K 12. Genet Res. 1965 Nov;6(3):442–453. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300004328. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. VAN DE PUTTE P., VAN DILLEWIJN, ROERSCH A. THE SELECTION OF MUTANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI WITH IMPAIRED CELL DIVISION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE. Mutat Res. 1964 Jul;106:121–128. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(64)90014-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Witkin E. M. The radiation sensitivity of Escherichia coli B: a hypothesis relating filament formation and prophage induction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 May;57(5):1275–1279. doi: 10.1073/pnas.57.5.1275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. van de Putte P., Zwenk H., Rörsch A. Properties of four mutants of Escherichia coli defective in genetic recombination. Mutat Res. 1966 Oct;3(5):381–392. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(66)90048-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES