A new mutation inEscherichia coli K12,isfA, which is responsible for inhibition of SOS functions

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Abstract
A new mutation inEscherichia coli K12,isfA, is described, which causes inhibition of SOS functions. The mutation, discovered in a ΔpolA + mutant, is responsible for inhibition of several phenomena related to the SOS response inpolA + strains: UV- and methyl methanesulfonate-induced mutagenesis, resumption of DNA replication in UV-irradiated cells, cell filamentation, prophage induction and increase in UV sensitivity. TheisfA mutation also significantly reduces UV-induced expression of β-galactosidase fromrecA::lacZ andumuC′::lacZ fusions. The results suggest that theisfA gene product may affect RecA* coprotease activity and may be involved in the regulation of the termination of the SOS response after completion of DNA repair. TheisfA mutation was localized at 85 min on theE. coli chromosome, and preliminary experiments suggest that it may be dominant to the wild-type allele.