Involvement of recF in 254 nm ultraviolet radiation resistance in Deinococcus radiodurans and Escherichia coli

Curr Microbiol. 2010 Nov;61(5):458-64. doi: 10.1007/s00284-010-9638-x. Epub 2010 Apr 13.

Abstract

recF is a critical gene involved in the RecFOR pathway of DNA repair in Deinococcus radiodurans (D. radiodurans). To investigate the role of recF in UV-C radiation resistance, we generated the recF-deficient D. radiodurans strain R1, expressed recF in Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21 cells, and compared the ability of each to resist UV-C radiation by F (10), inactivation constant (IC), and extrapolation number (N). The mutation of recF in D. radiodurans R1 resulted in characteristic slow growth and dramatic sensitivity to UV-C irradiation. Transformation of recF into E. coli BL21 cells resulted in increased UV-C resistance compared to untransformed E. coli BL21 cells. These results suggested that recF is needed for the replication of D. radiodurans. Furthermore, as a part of the RecFOR pathway in D. radiodurans, disruption of recF could dramatically decrease the UV-C resistance of D. radiodurans and recF could increase the UV-C resistance of E. coli BL21 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • DNA, Bacterial / radiation effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Deinococcus / genetics
  • Deinococcus / metabolism
  • Deinococcus / radiation effects*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / radiation effects*
  • Gene Amplification
  • Genomic Instability
  • Mutation
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Radiation Tolerance / genetics*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Transformation, Bacterial
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • recF protein, Bacteria