Damage-repair error-prone polymerases of eubacteria: association with mobile genome elements

It is known that umuDC-like operons encoding DNA polymerase V are often found in plasmids of gamma-proteobacteria. Here we demonstrate that homologous operons are associated with mobile genomic elements in Gram-positive bacteria as well, Using the comparative analysis of transcriptional regulatory signals, we suggest that genes encoding homologs of UmuC in prophages of Bacillus subtilis and transposons of Enterococus faecalis are regulated by DinR (SOS repressor). We also predict a functional link between the polymerase V-Iike proteins of B. subtilis and the protein family containing YolD, YozL and YqjX. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.