DefinePK

Abstract

The biological importance of DNA is well known. There are some factors that result in its damage leading to the mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death. The microorganisms exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and chemicals come up with some negative changes, including the reduction in the amount of DNA, leading to the decrease in the amount of protein being produced through translation. In this research E.coli methionine aminopeptidase gene ligated in the plasmid (pET21-MapE) was taken to observe the effects of UV light and ethyl methane sulphonate. As a result of the stress response, bacterial cell mass as well as amount of DNA and the protein was reduced in the bacterial culture containing plasmid (pET21-MapE) exposed to UV light and when treated with ethyl methane sulphonate. Furthermore, in comparison to UV light, ethyl methane sulphonate offered more reduction in the amount of DNA and protein. However, no observable changes were seen in the size of PCR amplified E.coli methionine aminopeptidase gene when exposed to the UV light or ethyl methane sulphonate. Giving the assumption that these factors have least effect on the stable DNA molecule when analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis but they predominantly affect the cellular machinery involved in the replication, transcription and translation processes consequently decrease in cell growth accompanying macromolecules production.
Keyword: Methionine aminopeptidase gene; UV induced damage; Ethyl methane sulphonate
http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2016.50146