Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1980 Apr;39(4):854–858. doi: 10.1128/aem.39.4.854-858.1980

Deoxyribonucleic Acid Repair in Bacillus subtilis: Development of Competent Cells into a Tester for Carcinogens

Ronald E Yasbin 1, Rosemarie Miehl 1,†
PMCID: PMC291433  PMID: 16345548

Abstract

The development of competent transformed Bacillus subtilis into a tester system for carcinogens is described. Precocious or noninduced activation of SOS functions occur in competent cells. Thus, lower doses or concentrations of SOS inducing agents are needed to cause cell death due to indigenous prophage activation and lysis of bacteria. The two known defective prophages in B. subtilis enhance the sensitivity of competent cells to the carcinogens ultraviolet light, mitomycin C, and methyl methanesulfonate. However, these same cells have no enhanced sensitivity for the non-carcinogenic ethyl methanesulfonate or for nalidixic acid. Therefore, competent B. subtilis appear to be a sensitive tester for carcinogens.

Full text

PDF
854

Selected References

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

  1. Bridges B. A., Huckle J. Mutagenesis of cultured mammalian cells by X-radiation and ultraviolet light. Mutat Res. 1970 Aug;10(2):141–151. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(70)90159-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brooks K., Clark A. J. Behavior of lambda bacteriophage in a recombination deficienct strain of Escherichia coli. J Virol. 1967 Apr;1(2):283–293. doi: 10.1128/jvi.1.2.283-293.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Casto B. C., Janosko N., DiPaolo J. A. Development of a focus assay model for transformation of hamster cells in vitro by chemical carcinogens. Cancer Res. 1977 Oct;37(10):3508–3515. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. D'Ambrosio S. M., Setlow R. B. Enhancement of postreplication repair in Chinese hamster cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Jul;73(7):2396–2400. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.7.2396. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. 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]
  6. Donch J., Greenberg J., Green M. H. Repression of induction by U.V. of lambda phage by exrA mutations in Escherichia coli. Genet Res. 1970 Feb;15(1):87–97. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300001397. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Emmerson P. T., West S. C. Identification of protein X of Escherichia coli as the recA+/tif+ gene product. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Sep 21;155(1):77–85. doi: 10.1007/BF00268563. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ganesan A. T. Genetic recombination during transformation in Bacillus subtilis: appearance of a deoxyribonucleic acid methylase. J Bacteriol. 1979 Jul;139(1):270–279. doi: 10.1128/jb.139.1.270-279.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gudas L. J., Mount D. W. Identification of the recA (tif) gene product of Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5280–5284. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5280. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. 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]
  11. Hart R. W., Setlow R. B., Woodhead A. D. Evidence that pyrimidine dimers in DNA can give rise to tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5574–5578. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5574. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hill T., Prakash L., Strauss B. Mutagen stability of alkylation-sensitive mutants of Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1972 Apr;110(1):47–55. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.1.47-55.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kao F. T., Puck T. T. Genetics of somatic mammalian cells. IX. Quantitation of mutagenesis by physical and chemical agents. J Cell Physiol. 1969 Dec;74(3):245–258. doi: 10.1002/jcp.1040740305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kimball R. F., Setlow J. K., Liu M. The mutagenic and lethal effects of monofunctional methylating agents in strains of Haemophilus influenzae defective in repair processes. Mutat Res. 1971 May;12(1):21–28. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(71)90068-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kondo S. Environmental mutagen testing in Escherichia coli and phage lambda. Mutat Res. 1974 Aug;26(4):235–241. doi: 10.1016/s0027-5107(74)80020-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kondo S., Ichikawa H., Iwo K., Kato T. Base-change mutagenesis and prophage induction in strains of Escherichia coli with different DNA repair capacities. Genetics. 1970 Oct;66(2):187–217. doi: 10.1093/genetics/66.2.187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lytle C. D., Coppey J., Taylor W. D. Enhanced survival of ultraviolet-irradiated herpes simplex virus in carcinogen-pretreated cells. Nature. 1978 Mar 2;272(5648):60–62. doi: 10.1038/272060a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. McCann J., Choi E., Yamasaki E., Ames B. N. Detection of carcinogens as mutagens in the Salmonella/microsome test: assay of 300 chemicals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Dec;72(12):5135–5139. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.12.5135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Miura A., Tomizawa J. I. Studies on radiation-sensitive mutants of E. coli. 3. Participation of the rec system in induction of mutation by ultraviolet irradiation. Mol Gen Genet. 1968;103(1):1–10. doi: 10.1007/BF00271151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. 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]
  21. NESTER E. W., STOCKER B. A. BIOSYNTHETIC LATENCY IN EARLY STAGES OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACIDTRANSFORMATION IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS. J Bacteriol. 1963 Oct;86:785–796. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.4.785-796.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Nasim A. Repair-mechanisms and radiation-induced mutations in fission yeast. Genetics. 1968 Jul;59(3):327–333. doi: 10.1093/genetics/59.3.327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ogawa H., Shimada K., Tomizawa J. Studies on radiation-sensitive mutants of E. coli. I. Mutants defective in the repair synthesis. Mol Gen Genet. 1968 May 3;101(3):227–244. doi: 10.1007/BF00271625. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Okubo S., Romig W. R. Comparison of ultraviolet sensitivity of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO2 and its infectious DNA. J Mol Biol. 1965 Nov;14(1):130–142. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(65)80235-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Prakash L. Lack of chemically induced mutation in repair-deficient mutants of yeast. Genetics. 1974 Dec;78(4):1101–1118. doi: 10.1093/genetics/78.4.1101. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. ROE F. J., MITCHLEY B. C., WALTERS M. TESTS FOR CARCINOGENESIS USING NEWBORN MICE: 1,2BENZANTHRACENE, 2-NAPHTHYLAMINE, 2-NAPHTHYLHYDROXYLAMINE AND ETHYL METHANE SULPHONATE. Br J Cancer. 1963 Jun;17:255–260. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1963.36. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Radman M. SOS repair hypothesis: phenomenology of an inducible DNA repair which is accompanied by mutagenesis. Basic Life Sci. 1975;5A:355–367. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-2895-7_48. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sedgwick S. G. Inducible error-prone repair in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Jul;72(7):2753–2757. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.7.2753. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Sedgwick S. G. Ultraviolet inducible protein associated with error prone repair in E. coli B. Nature. 1975 May 22;255(5506):349–350. doi: 10.1038/255349a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Setlow J. K., Boling M. E. Bacteriophage of Haemophilus influenzae. II. Repair of ultraviolet-irradiated phage DNA and the capacity of irradiated cells to make phage. J Mol Biol. 1972 Feb 14;63(3):349–362. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(72)90432-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Simon T. J., Masker W. E., Hanawalt P. C. Selective inhibition of semiconservative DNA synthesis by nalidixic acid in permeabilized bacteria. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1974 May 17;349(2):271–274. doi: 10.1016/0005-2787(74)90089-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Smith K. C., Meun D. H. Repair of radiation-induced damage in Escherichia coli. I. Effect of rec mutations on post-replication repair of damage due to ultraviolet radiation. J Mol Biol. 1970 Aug;51(3):459–472. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(70)90001-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Spizizen J. TRANSFORMATION OF BIOCHEMICALLY DEFICIENT STRAINS OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS BY DEOXYRIBONUCLEATE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1958 Oct 15;44(10):1072–1078. doi: 10.1073/pnas.44.10.1072. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Weigle J. J. Induction of Mutations in a Bacterial Virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1953 Jul;39(7):628–636. doi: 10.1073/pnas.39.7.628. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Witkin E. M. Ultraviolet mutagenesis and inducible DNA repair in Escherichia coli. Bacteriol Rev. 1976 Dec;40(4):869–907. doi: 10.1128/br.40.4.869-907.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Yasbin R. E. DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis. I. The presence of an inducible system. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Jun 8;153(2):211–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Yasbin R. E. DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis. II. Activation of the inducible system in competent bacteria. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Jun 8;153(2):219–225. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Yasbin R. E., Fernwalt J. D., Fields P. I. DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis: excision repair capacity of competent cells. J Bacteriol. 1979 Jan;137(1):391–396. doi: 10.1128/jb.137.1.391-396.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Yasbin R. E., Wilson G. A., Young F. E. Effect of lysogeny on transfection and transfection enhancement in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1975 Jan;121(1):305–312. doi: 10.1128/jb.121.1.305-312.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Yasbin R. E., Wilson G. A., Young F. E. Transformation and transfection in lysogenic strains of Bacillus subtilis: evidence for selective induction of prophage in competent cells. J Bacteriol. 1975 Jan;121(1):296–304. doi: 10.1128/jb.121.1.296-304.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. de Serres F. J. Prospects for a revolution in the methods of toxicological evaluation. Mutat Res. 1976 Jun;38(3):165–176. doi: 10.1016/0165-1161(76)90188-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES