Abstract
In the absence of DNA adenine methylase, growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is inhibited by bile. Mutations in any of the mutH, mutL, and mutS genes suppress bile sensitivity in a Dam(-) background, indicating that an active MutHLS system renders Dam(-) mutants bile sensitive. However, inactivation of the MutHLS system does not cause bile sensitivity. An analogy with Escherichia coli, in which the MutHLS system sensitizes Dam(-) mutants to DNA-injuring agents, suggested that bile might cause DNA damage. In support of this hypothesis, we show that bile induces the SOS response in S. enterica and increases the frequency of point mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Mutations in mutH, mutL, or mutS cause partial relief of virulence attenuation in a Dam(-) background (50- to 100-fold by the oral route and 10-fold intraperitoneally), suggesting that an active MutHLS system reduces the ability of Salmonella Dam(-) mutants to cope with DNA-damaging agents (bile and others) encountered during the infection process. The DNA-damaging ability of bile under laboratory conditions raises the possibility that the phenomenon may be relevant in vivo, since high bile concentrations are found in the gallbladder, the niche for chronic Salmonella infections.