NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET MUTAGENESIS IN SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE-DEFICIENT STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI

We compared mutagenic spectra induced by polychromatic near-ultraviole t radiation (near-UV; 300-400 nm) with superoxide anion (O-2(-)) -depe ndent mutagenesis using a set of Escherichia coli tester strains. Near -UV radiation produced increased frequencies of G:C to A:T transitions , G:C: to T:A and A:T to T:A transversions, and small increases in fra meshift mutations in wild-type cells. Tester strains lacking superoxid e dismutase (SOD) activity (sodAsodB double mutants) demonstrated high spontaneous mutation frequencies and increased near-UV sensitivity. T he double mutants also showed increased mutations induced by nar-UV co mpared to either isogenic wild type, sodA or sodB single mutants. Futh ermore, these mutants had an unusual spontaneous mutation spectrum, wi th a predominance of A:T to T:A transversions, followed by G:C to T:A transversions and frameshifts generated in runs of adenines in both th e +1 and -1 direction. Other frameshifts were detected to a lesser deg ree. The oxygen dependency and the type of mutations spontaneously ind uced in SOD-deficient cells indicated that this mutagenic spectrum Was caused by oxidative DNA damage. However, no apparent synergistic acti on between near-UV, radiation and an increased flux of O-2(-) could be detected. From the frequency and types of mutations induced by the tw o agents, we speculate that near-UV-induced mutagenesis and O-2(-)-dep endent mutagenesis involve, in part, different lesion(s) and/or mechan ism(s). The nature and possible mutagenic pathways of each are discuss ed.