Cell sensitivity to irradiation and DNA repair processes. I. DNA damage and its repair in Escherichia coli.

Basic types of DNA damage produced by gamma-radiation in cells are reviewed. Different DNA injuries are related to various levels of DNA repair processes, established in the case of Escherichia coli cells. The role of the balance of repair enzyme activities is considered in connection with the induction of enzymatic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The concept of "metastable sites" has been introduced. "Metastable sites" are formed from great nucleolytic gaps. They are measured as DSBs although they can be repaired as single-strand breaks (SSBs). A simple mathematical model of the inactivation of different mutants of E. coli cells has been constructed on the basis of available experimental data. Kinetic equations of the model have been solved and some parameters estimated for both sensitive and resistant mutants.