title: Genetic separation of Escherichia coli recA functions for SOS mutagenesis and repressor cleavage.
abstract: Evidence is presented that recA functions which promote the SOS functions of mutagenesis, LexA protein proteolysis, and lambda cI repressor proteolysis are each genetically separable from the others. This separation was observed in recombination-proficient recA mutants and rec+ (F' recA56) heterodiploids. recA430, recA433, and recA435 mutants and recA+ (F' recA56) heterodiploids were inducible for only one or two of the three functions and defective for mutagenesis. recA80 and recA432 mutants were constitutively activated for two of the three functions in that these mutants did not have to be induced to express the functions. We propose that binding of RecA protein to damaged DNA and subsequent interaction with small inducer molecules gives rise to conformational changes in RecA protein. These changes promote surface-surface interactions with other target proteins, such as cI and LexA proteins. By this model, the recA mutants are likely to have incorrect amino acids substituted as sites in the RecA protein structure which affect surface regions required for protein-protein interactions. The constitutively activated mutants could likewise insert altered amino acids at sites in RecA which are involved in the activation of RecA protein by binding small molecules or polynucleotides which metabolically regulate RecA protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ossanna
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Mount
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D009154:Mutation / Q000528:radiation effects; D010641:Phenotype; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein; C016649:phage repressor proteins