Expression of the plasmid pKM101-determined DNA repair system in recA − and lex − strains of Escherichia coli

Abstract
PKM101, a plasmid R factor of the N compatibility group increases methylmethane sulfonate mutagenesis and diminishes UV-killing in recA + lex + and recA + lex strains, but not in recA lex + strains. The induction of a “reclex” dependent colicin is not present in lex strains carrying the pKM101 factor. These facts indicate that pKM101 acts through an error-prone DNA repair system, which is recA + dependent, but not lex + dependent.