title: Escherichia coli gene that controls sensitivity to alkylating agents.
abstract: A new type of Escherichia coli mutant which shows increased sensitivity to methyl methane sulfonate but not to UV light or to gamma rays was isolated after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The mutant is unable to reactivate phage lambdavir or double-stranded phiX174 DNA (replicative form) that had been treated with methyl methane sulfonate. The mutant is sensitive to other alkylating agents, such as ethyl methane sulfonate, mitomycin C, and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, as well. It grows normally and exhibits almost normal recombination proficiency. The mutant possesses normal levels of DNA polymerase I, exonuclease I, exonuclease V, endonuclease specific for methyl methane sulfonate-treated DNA, and 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosidase activities. The genetic locus responsible has been named alk and is located near his on the chromosome.
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005796:Genes; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D008937:Mitomycins; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate