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REVIEW: Mechanisms of Stress Resistance and Gene Regulation in the Radioresistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans


A. A. Agapov1,2* and A. V. Kulbachinskiy1,2*

1Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123182 Moscow, Russia; fax: 7 (499) 196-0221; E-mail: akulb@img.ras.ru; al.a.agapov@gmail.com

2Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, 119991 Moscow, Russia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received April 13, 2015; Revision received May 26, 2015
The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans reveals extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation, oxidative stress, desiccation, and other damaging conditions. In this review, we consider the main molecular mechanisms underlying such resistance, including the action of specific DNA repair and antioxidation systems, and transcription regulation during the anti-stress response.
KEY WORDS: Deinococcus radiodurans, radioresistance, DNA damage, oxidative stress, regulation of gene expression, transcription, RNA polymerase

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915100016