Some aspects of the SOS response system - A critical survey

Abstract

The SOS system and SOS mutagenesis are frequently studied, or exploited to obtain an increase in mutagenicity of bacteria. Here a short survey is made of the phenomenon of SOS response with special attention to latest and less discussed data, especially the induction of the SOS system in response to cell starvation or mutation of certain genes and the role of inducible DNA polymerases.