Roberts J W, Phizicky E M, Burbee D G, Roberts C W, Moreau P L
Biochimie. 1982 Aug-Sep;64(8-9):805-7. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9084(82)80133-8.
SOS functions are induced in E. coli by treatments that damage cellular DNA or interrupt its synthesis. The biochemical basis of induction is activation of the specific proteolytic activity of recA protein, which then inactivates the lexA repressor. We discuss the development of the inducing signal in the cell.