Drug-induced relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA in Bacillus subtilis and induction of the SOS response

Whereas treatment with many different drugs led to induction of the SOS response in Bacillus subtilis, only inhibitors of DNA gyrase subunit B and, unexpectedly, polyether antibiotics (membrane ionophores) led to relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. However, treatment with DNA gyrase subunit B inhibitors but not with polyethers led to SOS induction. Thus, the presence of underwound supercoiled DNA was not sufficient to induce the SOS response. Possible mechanisms by which polyethers induce relaxation of supercoiled DNA in vivo are discussed.