SOS response

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SOS response

The SOS response is a global DNA repair mechanism in bacteria and other prokaryotes, activated in response to significant DNA damage. It is named after the international distress signal SOS, due to its function in signaling and responding to cellular distress.

Pronunciation

SOS response: /ˌɛs.oʊˈɛs rɪˈspɒns/

Etymology

The term "SOS" is borrowed from the Morse code distress signal (. . . - - - . . .), which does not stand for any specific words or phrases but is universally recognized as a call for help. The "response" part of the term refers to the cellular reaction to DNA damage.

Mechanism

The SOS response is regulated by two key proteins: LexA and RecA. Under normal conditions, LexA represses the SOS genes. However, when DNA damage occurs, RecA becomes activated and facilitates the self-cleavage of LexA, leading to the derepression of the SOS genes and the initiation of DNA repair mechanisms.

Related Terms

  • DNA repair: The collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome.
  • Prokaryotes: A group of organisms whose cells lack a nucleus and other complex organelles, including bacteria and archaea.
  • LexA: A transcriptional repressor protein that regulates the expression of the SOS genes in prokaryotes.
  • RecA: A DNA repair and recombination protein that plays a central role in the SOS response.

External links

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