Dipicolinic acid greatly enhances production of spore photoproduct in bacterial spores upon UV irradiation

Journal Article · Sun Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6588006

Setlow, B; Setlow, P ^[1]

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1. 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), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 59:2; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560120* -- Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL SPORES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMISTRY
DNA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IN VITRO
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SPORES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION