Dependence of DNA dark repair on protein synthesis in Escherichia coli

We investigated the influence of amino-acidless treatments applied prior and after UV irradiation (AA-irradiated AA+; AA-irradiated A-; AA+ irradiated AA-) on survival, dimer excision, postirradiation DNA degradation, DNA synthesis and sedimentation profiles of parental DNA of E. coli B/r Hcr+ cells. In dependence on the treatment applied, the fluence 50 J/m2 yielded distinctly different fractions of survivors within 0,03-85%. In all cases dimers were completely excised. The rate of DNA degradation was similar during a 30-40 min period after UV during which the bulk of dimers was excised. Degradation ceased, however, earlier in the prestarved cells than in exponentially growing ones; it was prolonged by aminoacidless postincubation. Sedimentation profiles of parental DNA did not differ during the whole period of dimer excision. In AA+ AA- cells DNA synthesis was not restored for several hours after addition of amino acids. In AA- AA- cells addition of amino acids resulted in a fast resumption of DNA synthesis. We conclude that removal of dimers and repair of gaps were similar in all cases. We believe that aminoacidless treatments influence production and repair of damage to the sites of DNA replication. The treatment appears to prevent this damage when applied before UV irradiation, but interferes with its restoration when applied after UV irradiation. Consequently, the former treatment increases survival of cells while the latter produces an opposite effect.