Rabbit Anti-Escherichia coli umuD polyclonal antibody for WB. The products of umuD, umuC, and recA genes (SOS genes) are required for mutagenesis induced by radiation or chemical agents. Transcription of these SOS genes is repressed by a repressor, LexA protein in uninduced cells. Exposure of cells to DNA-damaging agents activates RecA protein to promote proteolytic cleavage of LexA protein. Inactivation of LexA protein by the cleavage consequently derepresses the SOS genes, umuD, C and recA. UmuD protein is then auto-cleaved, which is promoted by RecA protein ssDNA in a ATP-dependent manner. The processed UmuD protein is the active form for mutagenesis and the UmuD-UmuC complex functions as an error-prone translesion DNA polymerase.