Thymine-containing dimers as well as spore photoproducts are found in ultraviolet-irradiated Bacillus subtilis spores that lack small acid-soluble proteins

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.2.421· OSTI ID:6841207

Setlow, B; Setlow, P

Dormant spores of a Bacillus subtilis mutant that lacks two major small, acid-soluble spore proteins are very sensitive to UV irradiation, which in spores generates about half the amount of thymine-containing dimers formed by comparable irradiation of vegetative cells. Irradiation of mutant spores also produces spore photoproducts, but again only about one-half the amount formed in comparably irradiated wild-type spores. These findings suggest that the high UV sensitivity of the mutant spores is due to the production of pyrimidine dimers, which are not found in UV-irradiated wild-type spores, and that the high level of small, acid-soluble proteins found in wild-type spores is directly involved in spore UV resistance by facilitating a conformational change in spore DNA, preventing pyrimidine dimer formation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
• OSTI ID: 6841207
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560130* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACILLUS
BACILLUS SUBTILIS
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL SPORES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MICROORGANISMS
MUTANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PROTEINS
PYRIMIDINE DIMERS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
SOLUBILITY
SPORES
SYNTHESIS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION