DNA double-strand breakage and removal of cross-links in Deinococcus radiodurans

Mitomycin C-sensitive mutants of Deinococcus radiodurans were isolated which were either resistant to or only moderately sensitive to far UV (254 nm) or gamma rays. They were also sensitive to irradiation at 365 nm in the presence of 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen. They were classified into seven complementary groups (mtcA through mtcG) by transformation experiments. Interstrand cross-links in the DNA duplex induced by mitomycin C were removed in the cells of two mutants (mtcD and mtcE) as in the wild type, whereas the other mutants were deficient in this repair. After a sublethal dosage of mitomycin C, single- and double-stranded cuts of cross-linked DNA were observed in the wild-type cells during postincubation. This removal of cross-links in DNA seems to be indispensable for the cells since their colony-forming ability was markedly reduced if they were postincubated under an inhibitory condition for repair of these lesions.