title: Induction of the SOS gene (umuC) by 4-quinolone antibacterial drugs.
abstract: Induction by the 4-quinolone group of antibacterial drugs of the umuC gene, the SOS function most involved in error-prone DNA repair (together with umuD), was assessed in a strain of Escherichia coli harbouring a umuC::lacZ gene fusion. All 4-quinolones tested induced this umuC::lacZ fusion, with maximum induction at 4-quinolone concentrations close to their minimum inhibitory concentrations for this strain, and the SOS Inducing Potential (SOSIP) was closely related to antibacterial activity. Mitomycin C, a known mutagen, was a slightly better inducer (in terms of SOSIP) than any of the quinolones. In contrast, induction by 4-quinolones of the sfiA (sulA) gene, an SOS function involved in cell division inhibition, was better than induction by mitomycin C in an E. coli strain harbouring an sfiA::lacZ gene fusion. The umuC gene fusion was induced at lower concentrations of 4-quinolone than was the sfiA gene fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, United Medical School, St Thomas' Hospital, London.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D042462:4-Quinolones; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D007763:Lac Operon; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D042462:4-Quinolones; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001616:beta-Galactosidase