Induced radioresistance in four strains of Escherichia coli, two with lambda lysogens

Cells of E. coli that are recA+ and lex+ show a phenomenon of induced radioresistance. A preexposure to ultraviolet light, or ionizing radiation followed by incubation to allow protein synthesis, followed by treatment with rifampin to prevent further induction, renders the cells resistant to further doses of radiation. When this is attempted with lambda lysogens of the same strains, no radioresistance is seen, even though the preexposure is too small to induce lambda itself. If the lysogens are ind-, namely lambda C1857, about the normal radioresistance can be developed by pretreatment. These findings suggest that the lambda repressors can bind to single-strand breaks caused by the inducing agent and can modify the course of induction.