Induction of SOS genes of Escherichia coli by chromium compounds

1 January 1986

journal article
research article
Published by Wiley in Environmental Mutagenesis

Vol. 8 (4) , 571-577
https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2860080408

Abstract

The induction of several SOS genes of Escherichia coli such as recA, umuC, and sfiA by hexavalent (K₂Cr₂O₇, K₂CrO₄, and CrO₃) and trivalent (CrCl₃, Cr(NO₃)₃, and (CH₃COO)₃Cr) compounds of chromium was studied. Induction was measured as β-galactosidase activity, using lacZ gene fusions under the control region of different SOS genes. The hexavalent chromium forms induced the genes responsible for massive synthesis of RecA protein, error-prone repair, and inhibition of cell division. On the other hand, the trivalent chromium compounds were unable to induce any of the SOS genes tested. Individual assay of hexavalent chromium compounds showed that K₂Cr₂O₇ was a stronger inducing agent of those three SOS genes tested than K₂CrO₄, which, in turn, was stronger than CrO₃. All this data led to the conclusion that hexavalent chromium compounds, but not trivalent, are proficient agents of induction of the SOS system and can produce indirect mutagenesis in Escherichia coli.

Keywords

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