title: Role of DNA repair by nonhomologous-end joining in Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to extreme dryness, mono- and polychromatic UV, and ionizing radiation.
abstract: The role of DNA repair by nonhomologous-end joining (NHEJ) in spore resistance to UV, ionizing radiation, and ultrahigh vacuum was studied in wild-type and DNA repair mutants (recA, splB, ykoU, ykoV, and ykoU ykoV mutants) of Bacillus subtilis. NHEJ-defective spores with mutations in ykoU, ykoV, and ykoU ykoV were significantly more sensitive to UV, ionizing radiation, and ultrahigh vacuum than wild-type spores, indicating that NHEJ provides an important pathway during spore germination for repair of DNA double-strand breaks.
authors.affiliation: Space Life Sciences Laboratory, Building M6-1025/SLSL, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32953, USA.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Erko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stackebrandt
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reitz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rettberg
authors.forename: Aidan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horneck
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004260:DNA Repair; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014618:Vacuum