Evidence for a specific regulation of recA gene transcription in Escherichia coli

The kinetics of the recA, sfiA and umuDC genes transcription were studied during a double SOS-inducing treatment in Escherichia coli cells using several strains carrying lacZ gene fusions. A transient inhibition in recA, but not in sfiA or umuDC promoted beta-galactosidase synthesis was detected after successive UV-irradiations. Results obtained with a recA--lacZ fusion introduced in several DNA-repair mutants demonstrated that neither a lower LexA inactivation nor a decrease in the production of the inducing signal are the events through which the successive UV-irradiation promoted the arrest of recA transcription. On the contrary, a specific UV-dose-dependent delay appears to be the reason for the inhibition of the recA gene transcription in cells irradiated twice.