Construction of a functional network for common DNA damage responses in Escherichia coli

In this study, we aim to identify a common, general mode of toxic action in Escherichia coli when experiencing DNA damage, irrespective of the agents used. We conducted or collected 69 microarray data from seven different DNA damaging agents. In a quantitative manner, we constructed a probable DNA damage stress network, entitled the 'Functional Linked Network (FLN)', which consists of 399 significantly perturbed genes and the 1283 interactions among them. The SOS response related genes (LexA modules) were found to be dominantly activated by DNA damage, irrespective of the agents. Several minor, plausible modules were also implicated in this network, and appear to be related with the metabolic inhibition response to DNA damage or mediate the induction of SOS response. This systems and comparison approach across a variety of genotoxic agents may serve as a starting point to specify some of the unknown and common features of DNA damage responses in bacteria.