title: The Bacterial Mfd Protein Prevents DNA Damage Induced by the Host Nitrogen Immune Response in a NER-Independent but RecBC-Dependent Pathway.
abstract: Production of reactive nitrogen species is an important component of the host immune defence against bacteria. Here, we show that the bacterial protein Mfd (Mutation frequency decline), a highly conserved and ubiquitous bacterial protein involved in DNA repair, confers bacterial resistance to the eukaryotic nitrogen response produced by macrophage cells and during mice infection. In addition, we show that RecBC is also necessary to survive this stress. The inactivation of recBC and mfd genes is epistatic showing that Mfd follows the RecBC repair pathway to protect the bacteria against the genotoxic effect of nitrite. Surprisingly given the role of Mfd in transcription-coupled repair, UvrA is not necessary to survive the nitrite response. Taken together, our data reveal that during the eukaryotic nitrogen response, Mfd is required to maintain bacterial genome integrity in a NER-independent but RecBC-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Darrigo
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guillemet
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Rozenn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dervyn
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramarao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009154:Mutation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C072103:transcription repair coupling factor protein, Bacteria; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V; D009584:Nitrogen