SummaryThe extraordinary radiation resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans results from the efficient capacity of the bacterium to repair DNA double-strand breaks. By analysing the DNA damage repair-deficient mutant, KH311, a unique radiation-inducible gene (designated pprA ) responsible for loss of radiation resistance was identified. Investigations in vitro showed that the gene product of pprA (PprA) preferentially bound to double-stranded DNA carrying strand breaks, inhibited Escherichia coli exonuclease III activity, and stimulated the DNA end-joining reaction catalysed by ATPdependent and NAD-dependent DNA ligases. These results suggest that D. radiodurans has a radiationinduced non-homologous end-joining repair mechanism in which PprA plays a critical role.
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