Lon protease is essential for paradoxical survival of Escherichia coli exposed to high concentrations of quinolone

Abstract

A deficiency of the Escherichia coli Lon protease blocked paradoxical survival occurring at very high nalidixic acid concentrations. The absence of Lon also blocked a parallel increase in cell lysate viscosity likely to reflect DNA size. Thus, Lon may participate in repairing quinolone-mediated DNA lesions formed at high drug concentrations.