Properties of a DNA ligase mutant of Escherichia coli: introduction of strand breaks in DNA.

Strand breaks accumulated in the DNA of a temperature-sensitive DNA ligase mutant of Escherichia coli growing at the restrictive temperature, as detected by zone sedimentation through alkaline sucrose density gradients. The rate of strand breakage was increased by concomitant thymine starvation. Rifampicin and chloramphenicol inhibited the accumulation of strand breaks in the DNA. There was a correlation between the accumulation of strand breaks in the DNA and lethality, suggesting that such breaks are the basis for lethality at the restrictive temperature.