Summary
The relative yield (N m/N) of fluorescent mutants Ind- after the transformation of Bacillus subtilis cells by means of UV-irradiated DNA is much higher in an uvr - recipient than in an uvr + strain, when compared at equal fluence, but practically identical at equal survival. Ind- mutations are induced by UV-irradiation of separated single strands of transforming DNA. The H-strand is much more sensitive to the mutagenic action of UV light. Preliminary irradiation of competent recipient cells by moderate UV fluences increases the survival of UV-or γ-irradiated transforming DNA (W-reactivation) and the frequency of Ind- mutations (W-mutagenesis). During transfection of B. subtilis cells by UV-irradiated prophage DNA isolated from lysogenic cells B. subtilis (Ø105 c +) c-mutants of the phage are obtained in high yield only in conditions of W-mutagenesis, i.e. in UV-irradiated recipient cells. These data show that there is no substantial spontaneous induction of error-prone SOS-repair system in the competent cells of B. subtilis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad, A.F., Leis, U.: Transfection with heteroduplex SPP1 DNA: a pyrimidine dimer induced influence on the conversion pattern. Molec. Gen. Genet. 139, 103–119 (1975)
Anagnostopoulos, C., Spizizen, J.: Requirements for transformation in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol, 81, 741–746 (1961)
Bodmer, W.F., Ganesan, A.T.: Biochemical and genetic studies on recombination in Bacillus subtilis transformation. Genetics 50, 717–738 (1964)
Bresler, S.E.: Theory of misrepair mutagenesis. Mutat. Res. 29, 476–487 (1975)
Bresler, S.E., Kalinin, V.L., Perumov, D.A.: Inactivation and mutagenesis on isolated DNA. I. Theory of inactivation of transforming DNA. Mutat. Res. 4, 389–398 (1967)
Bresler, S.E., Kalinin, V.L., Perumov, D.A.: Inactivation and mutagenesis on isolated DNA. II. Kinetics of mutagenesis and effieiency of various mutagens. Mutat. Res. 5, 1–14 (1968)
Bresler, S.E., Kalinin, V.L., Perumov, D.A.: Inactivation and mutagenesis on isolated DNA. V. The importance of repairing enzymes for the inactivation of transforming DNA in vitro. Mutat. Res. 9, 1–19 (1970)
Bresler, S.E., Kreneva, R.A., Kushev, V.V.: Molecular heterozygotes in Bacillus subtilis and their correction. Mol. Gen. Genet. 113, 204–213 (1971)
Bresler, S.E., Perumov, D.A.: Chemical mutagenesis on isolated DNA and bacterial transformation. Biokhimiya 27, 927–937 (1962)
Bresler, S.E., Perumov, D.A.: Mutagenesis on isolated DNA under the action of ultraviolet radiation and chemical agents. Dokl. Akad. Nauk U.S.S.R. 158, 967–969 (1964)
Bridges, B.A.: Recent advances in basic mutation research. Mutat. Res. 44, 149–164 (1977)
Bridges, B.A., Motershead, R.P.: Mutagenic DNA repair in Escherichia coli. VII. Constitutive and inducible manifestations. Mutat. Res. 52, 151–159 (1978)
Bron, S., Venema, G.: Ultraviolet inactivation and excision repair in Bacillus subtilis. IV. Integration and repair of ultraviolet-inactivated transforming DNA. Mutat. Res. 15, 395–409 (1972)
Ephrussi-Taylor, H., Sicard, A.M., Kamen, R.: Genetic recombination in DNA-induced transformation of Pneumoccocus. I. The problem of relative efficiency of transforming factors. Genetics 51, 455–475 (1965)
Freese, E., Strack, H.B.: Induction of mutations in transforming DNA by hydroxylamine. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 48, 1796–1803 (1962)
Kalinin, V.L., Kreneva, R.A.: W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis of UV-irradiated phage Ø105 of Bacillus subtilis. Genetika (USSR) 13, 1268–1280 (1977)
Lacks, S.: Mutants of Diplococcus pneumoniae that lack deoxyribonuclease and other activities possibly pertinent to genetic transformation. J. Bacteriol. 101, 373–383 (1970)
Litman, R.M.: Ephrussi-Taylor, H.: Inactivation et mutation des facteurs gènètiques de l'acide desoxyribonucleic du pneumocoque par l'ultraviolet et par l'acide nitreux. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. D. 249, 838–841 (1959)
Munakata, N.: Mapping of genes controlling excision repair of pyrimidine dimers in Bacillus subtilis. Mol. Gen. Genet. 156, 49–54 (1977)
Rutberg, L., Hoch, J.A., Spizizen, J.: Mechanism of transfection with deoxyribonucleic acid from temperate Bacillus bacteriophage Ø105. J. Virol. 4, 50–57 (1969)
Setlow, J.K., Boling, M.E.: Bacteriophage of Haemophilus influenzae. II. Repair of ultraviolet-irradiated phage DNA and the capacity of irradiated DNA to make phage. J. Mol. Biol. 63, 349–362 (1972)
Sgroi, G., Cordone, L., Fornili, S.L.: Repair of U.V. damages in Bacillus subtilis cultures competent for transformation: difference between competent and non-competent fractions, Nucleic Acids Res. 2, 1569–1578 (1975)
Spatz, H.Ch., Trautner, T.A.: One way to do experiments on gene conversion? Transfection with heteroduplex SPP1 DNA. Mol. Gen. Genet. 109, 84–106 (1970)
Witkin, E.M.: Ultraviolet mutagenesis and inducible DNA repair in Escherichia coli. Bacteriol. Rev. 40, 869–907 (1977)
Yasbin, R.E.: DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis. I. The presence of an inducible system Mol. Gen. Genet. 153, 211–218 (1977).
Yasbin, R.E.: DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis. II. Activation of the inducible system in competent bacteria. Mol. Gen. Genet. 153, 219–225 (1977)
Yasbin, R.E., Wilson G.E., Young, F.E.: Transformation and transfection in lysogenic strains of Bacillus subtilis: evidence for selective induction of prophage in competent cells. J. Bacteriol. 121, 296–304 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by H. Böhme
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bresler, S.E., Kalinin, V.L. & Kreneva, R.A. W-mutagenesis in competent cells of Bacillus subtilis . Molec. Gen. Genet. 177, 691–698 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272681
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272681