Summary
The number of induced mutations to streptomycin resistance is compared at doses of ultraviolet (UV) light between 0.2 and 6.4 J/m2 in a Uvr- (excision-deficient) derivative of E. coli B/r, strain WU, and in its λ lysogen, strain WU(λ). At UV doses up to about 1 J/m2, which converts about 5% of the lysogenic population into infective centers, no difference is observed in the number of mutations to streptomycin resistance produced by the two strains. It is concluded that the capacity to produce UV-induced mutations is not coupled with lysis due to the induction of λ prophage at low doses of UV radiation. At UV doses above 1 J/m2, the number of mutants detected in the lysogenic strain decreases appreciably compared to the number detected in the nonlysogen, and is only about 10% as high at UV doses of 3 J/m2 and higher, doses which cause maximal induction of prophage. The results are compatible with the operation of a common “all-or-none” induction signal resulting in expression of UV-inducible functions at high UV doses, but not at low doses.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bachmann, B., Low, K.B., Taylor, A. L.: Recalibrated linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12. Bact. Rev. 40, 116–167 (1976)
Blanco, M., Devoret, R.: Repair mechanisms involved in prophage reactivation and UV reactivation of UV-irradiated phage. Molecular mechanisms for repair of DNA (Hanawalt, P., Setlow, R. B., eds.), pp. 293–305. New York: Plenum Press 1975
Clarke, C.H., Hill, R.F.: Mutation frequency decline for streptomycin-resistant mutants induced by ultraviolet light in Escherichia coli. Mutation Res. 14, 247–249 (1972)
Defais, M., Fauquet, P., Radman, M., Errara, M.: Ultraviolet reactivation and ultraviolet mutagenesis of λ in different genetic systems. Virology 43, 495–503 (1971)
Devoret, R., Blanco, J., George, J., Radman, M.: Recovery of phage λ from ultraviolet damage. Molecular mechanisms for repair of DNA (Hanawalt, P., Setlow, R.B., eds.), pp. 155–171. New York: Plenum Press 1975
Fauquet, P., Defais, M.: UV reactivation of phage λ in a polA mutant of E. coli. Mutation Res. 15, 353–355 (1972)
Goldthwait, D., Jacob, F.: Sur le mécanisme de l'induction du développement du prophage chez les bactéries lysogenès. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) D 259, 661–664 (1964)
Gudas, L., Pardee, A.B.: Model for the regulation of Escherichia coli DNA repair functions. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 72, 2330–2334 (1975)
Marcovich, H.: Etude de l'action des rayons ultraviolets sur le système lysogène Escherichia coli K12 (λ). Ann. Inst. Pasteur Paris 91, 511–522 (1956)
Monk, M., Peacey, M., Gross, J.D.: Repair of damage induced by ultraviolet light in DNA polymerase-defective Escherichia coli cells. J. molec. Biol. 58, 623–630 (1971)
Radman, M.: Phenomenology of an inducible mutagenic DNA repair pathway in Escherichia coli: SOS repair hypothesis. Molecular and environmental aspects of mutagenesis (Prokash, L., Sherman, F., Miller, M., Lawrence, C., Tabor, H.W. eds.), pp. 128–142, Springfield: C.C. Thomas 1974
Weigle, J.J.: Induction of mutation in a bacterial virus. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 39, 628–636 (1953)
Witkin, E.M.: Thermal enhancement of ultraviolet mutability in a tif-1 uvr A derivative of Escherichia coli B/r: evidence that ultraviolet mutagenesis depends upon an inducible function. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 71, 1930–1934 (1974)
Witkin, E.M.: Ultraviolet mutagenesis and inducible DNA reair in Escherichia coli. Bact. Rev. 40, 869–907 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by B.A. Bridges
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witkin, E.M., Wermundsen, I.E. Induction of lambda prophage and of mutations to streptomycin resistance in separate small fractions of a lysogenic derivative of Escherichia coli B/r by very low doses of ultraviolet light. Molec. Gen. Genet. 156, 35–39 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272249
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272249