Dependence Upon Growth Medium and the polA, polC, recA, recB, recC, and exrA Genes of Separate Branches of the uvr Gene-Dependent Excision-Repair Process in Escherichia coli K12 Cells

Abstract
The repair of single-strand breaks which arise in DNA during the uvr gene-dependent excision-repair process was examined in certain radiation-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli K12. The results suggest that the excision-repair process may be divided into two branches, one which is dependent on the presence of growth medium and also the rec+ exr+ genotype, and a second which can occur in buffer (growth medium independent) and is largely dependent on DNA polymerase I. DNA polymerase III appears to be involved in the growth-medium-dependent branch of excision repair, and also in the residual growth-medium-independent repair which occurs in polA1 cells. Chloramphenicol, dinitrophenol, and impurities present in some brands of agar all appear to inhibit the growth-medium-dependent branch of excision-repair. The similarities of the two branches of excision-repair to two known pathways for the repair of X-ray-induced DNA chain breaks are discussed.