Dipicolinic acid greatly enhances production of spore photoproduct in bacterial spores upon UV irradiation
- Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington (United States)
Dormant spores of Bacillus sp. are 10 to 50 times more resistant to UV radiation than corresponding vegetative cells. This difference is due to a difference in DNA photochemistry: a cyclobutane-type thymine-thymine dimer (TT) is formed in vegetative-cell DNA, while spores form 5-thyminyl-5,6 dihydrothymine adduct (SP). This paper investigates the role of [alpha]/[beta]-type small, acid-soluble proteins (SASP) in production of SP in spores. The in vitro yield of SP after irradiation of SASP-DNA complexes is 15 fold lower than in spores. Dipicolinic acid (DPA), present in the spore core, is investigated for its role in the switch from TT production to SP production. Although [alpha]/[beta]-type SASP appear essential in the forespore's DNA UV photoproduct switch from TT to SP, the good correlation between a high yield of SP as a function of UV fluence and the presence of DPA is consistant with a casual relationship. 16 refs., 1 tab., 2 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6588006
- Journal Information:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 59:2; ISSN 0099-2240
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Absence of transient elevated uv resistance during germination of Bacillus subtilis spores lacking small, acid-soluble spore proteins. cap alpha. and. beta
Ultraviolet irradiation of DNA complexed with. alpha. /. beta. -type small, acid-soluble proteins from spores of Bacillus or Clostridium species makes spore photoproduct but not thymine dimers
Related Subjects
BACTERIAL SPORES
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
BACILLUS
DNA
IN VITRO
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SPORES
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture