title: Small, acid-soluble proteins bound to DNA protect Bacillus subtilis spores from being killed by freeze-drying.
abstract: Wild-type spores of Bacillus subtilis were resistant to eight cycles of freeze-drying, whereas about 90% of spores lacking the two major DNA-binding proteins (small, acid-soluble proteins alpha and beta) were killed by three to four cycles of freeze-dryings, with significant mutagenesis and DNA damage accompanying the killing. This role for alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble proteins in spore resistance to freeze-drying may be important in spore survival in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fairhead
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Setlow
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Waites
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide