The effects of cis-platinum (II)diamminodichloride, UV light and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on Escherichia coli:plasmid mediated resistance to mutagens.

Protease deficient recA431 mutants of Escherichia coli are defective in their capacity for induction of SOS responses and were intermediate in their sensitivities to ultraviolet light (UV) and cis-platinum (II) diamminodichloride (cis-PDD). Survival after treatment determined as colony forming ability was greater in rec+ strains and decreased in recA13 mutants which are defective in both recA proteolytic and recombination capabilities. In contrast, recA431 mutants were as sensitive to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) as the recA13 cells. When cells carried either the pKM101 or N3 plasmid, survival after treatment with the three mutagens was increased. Presence of these plasmids in cells also resulted in hypermutagenicity as indicated by reversion of the argE3 mutation using a modified Ames test. Mutagenesis by NTG and cis-PDD was increased, as was survival of cells treated with UV light, cis-PDD and NTG in both recA+ and recA431 (protease deficient) strains. No plasmid mediated enhancement of mutagenesis or cell survival was observed in recA13 mutants. Thus, the ability of the plasmids to enhance cell survival and mutagenesis was dependent on recombination proficiency of the recA gene product and not its regulatory proteolytic activity. Unlike UV or NTG, presence of one of these plasmids was needed to detect reversion of the argE3 mutation by cis-PDD.