The SOS response is a widespread bacterial mechanism for coping with DNA-damaging stress. It has been known that the transcription factor LexA acts as the switch for SOS response to induce the expression of DNA repair-related genes. However, the nature of the SOS response in cyanobacteria remained unclear. A research group led by Professor Yukako Hihara at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, compared the responses of three cyanobacterial species after UV irradiation. They revealed that the SOS response in cyanobacteria is slow process and that its regulatory mechanisms are diverse: while some species use LexA as the switch, others initiate the SOS response without LexA. These findings are expected to contribute to establishing the molecular basis for artificially enhancing cyanobacteria’s UV resistance, creating species capable of withstanding harsh environments, and facilitating their practical applications.

【Press release (in Japanese)】https://www.saitama-u.ac.jp/topics_archives/202603101000.html
【Journal】Plant Physiology
【Title】The SOS response and functional diversification of the transcription factor LexA in cyanobacteria
【Authors】Haruka Kubodera, Hiroki Inoue, Aoi Ando, Tomoko Takahashi, Yukako Hihara*  （* Corresponding author）
【DOI】10.1093/plphys/kiag102
【URL】https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag102