Repair of DNA studied with a nuclease specific for UV-induced lesions.

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Abstract
An extract of Micrococcus lysodeikticus induced breaks in DNA containing pyrimidine dimers; the number of breaks was roughly equal to the number of pyrimidine dimers induced by UV irradiation. The extract also induced breaks in DNA which had been reacted with methyl methanesulfonate. Bacillus subtilis extracts degrade methyl methanesulfonate-treated DNA but do not attack UV-treated DNA. Recovery from UV damage as measured by loss of pyrimidine dimers is accompanied by loss of sensitivity to the M. lysodeiklicus extract. Mutants which are unable to remove pyrimidine retain their sensitivity to extract. The extract can be used to study the recovery of DNA from UV-induced damage.