Why is Deinococcus radiodurans so resistant to ionizing radiation?
When exponential-phase cultures of Deinococcus radiodurans are exposed to a 5000-Gray dose of gamma radiation, individual cells suffer massive DNA damage. Despite this insult to their genetic integrity, these cells survive without loss of viability or evidence of mutation, repairing the damage by as-yet-poorly-understood mechanisms.
Battista
J R
JR
Dept of Biological Sciences, 508 Life Sciences Bldg, Louisiana State University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. jbattis@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu
Earl
A M
AM
Park
M J
MJ
D004249:DNA Damage; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D004269:DNA, Bacterial