Evidence for the cloning of Deinococcus radiodurans DNA fragments that render Escherichia coli radiation resistant.
DNA from the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans was isolated and used to generate a cosmid library. This cosmid library was grown in Escherichia coli and radiation-resistant E. coli were isolated. Following exposure to 1000 Gy the radiation-resistant transformants exhibited a survival of approximately 10(-1) instead of the 10(-11) exhibited by the nontransformed E. coli. Smaller fragments of DNA were subcloned from the radiation-resistant E. coli; these fragments bestow similar levels of radiation resistance (ratio of slopes = 6.8) to native E. coli upon transfection.
Barrows
L R
LR
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics*