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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

Published on: November 5, 2012

DdcA antagonizes a bacterial DNA damage checkpoint.

Peter E Burby¹, Zackary W Simmons¹, Lyle A Simmons¹

¹Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.

Molecular Microbiology

|October 14, 2018

Summary

Bacteria use a checkpoint to halt cell division when DNA is damaged. New research reveals DdcA regulates this process by controlling the YneA protein, independent of degradation, uncovering a novel checkpoint control mechanism.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

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Published on: November 5, 2012

Evaluating In Vitro DNA Damage Using Comet Assay

Evaluating In Vitro DNA Damage Using Comet Assay

Published on: October 11, 2017

Use of Frozen Tissue in the Comet Assay for the Evaluation of DNA Damage

Use of Frozen Tissue in the Comet Assay for the Evaluation of DNA Damage

Published on: March 24, 2020

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Bacteria coordinate DNA replication and cell division for genetic inheritance.
DNA damage triggers a cell cycle checkpoint via a division inhibitor.
Current models emphasize protease-mediated inhibitor degradation for checkpoint regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the newly identified gene ddcA in bacterial DNA damage response.
To elucidate the mechanism by which DdcA influences the cell cycle checkpoint.

Main Methods:

Genome-wide screens to identify genes critical for DNA damage survival.
Genetic approaches including gene deletion and overexpression.
Analysis of YneA protein levels, stability, and localization using functional fusions.

Main Results:

Deletion of ddcA confers sensitivity to DNA damage, dependent on the checkpoint protein YneA.
DdcA function is distinct from known checkpoint recovery proteases.
DdcA regulates YneA independently of protein degradation and localization, preventing YneA-dependent cell elongation.

Conclusions:

DdcA plays a novel role in the DNA damage checkpoint activation in Bacillus subtilis.
DdcA helps establish the YneA threshold required for checkpoint initiation.
This identifies a new regulatory step in bacterial DNA damage response.