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Abstract
Nutrient-starved bacteria undergo physiological changes that increase bacterial resistance to nutrient and oxidative stresses, chemical and metal toxicity, and radiation, resulting in continued survival. Previous studies have demonstrated that cells in stationary phase are more resistant to UV radiation than cells in the exponential growth phase. The DNA-binding protein, Dps, plays a key role in surviving UV radiation and other stresses in stationary phase. This study investigated the role of Dps in resistance to UV irradiation during stringent response in Escherichia coli ZK126 and ZK1146, a dps mutant. We report that Dps-associated resistance to UV irradiation is present not only during stationary phase, but may also be present in exponential phase and stringent response. However, there is evidence to suggest that the activation of the stringent response confers added protection in E. coli to UV radiation in a Dps-independent manner.