ABSTRACTReactive oxygen species (ROS) promote the synthesis of the DNA lesion 8-oxo-G, whose mutagenic effects are counteracted in distinct organisms by the DNA glycosylase MutM. We report here that inBacillus subtilis,mutMis expressed during the exponential and stationary phases of growth. In agreement with this expression pattern, results of a Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of MutM in both stages of growth. In comparison with cells of a wild-type strain, cells ofB. subtilislacking MutM increased their spontaneous mutation frequency to Rifrand were more sensitive to the ROS promoter agents hydrogen peroxide and 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (Paraquat). However, despite MutM's proven participation in preventing ROS-induced-DNA damage, the expression ofmutMwas not induced by hydrogen peroxide, mitomycin C, or NaCl, suggesting that transcription of this gene is not under the control of the RecA, PerR, or σBregulons. Finally, the role of MutM in stationary-phase-associated mutagenesis (SPM) was investigated in the strainB. subtilisYB955 (hisC952 metB5 leuC427). Results revealed that under limiting growth conditions, amutMknockout strain significantly increased the amount of stationary-phase-associatedhis,met, andleurevertants produced. In summary, our results support the notion that the absence of MutM promotes mutagenesis that allows nutritionally stressedB. subtiliscells to escape from growth-limiting conditions.IMPORTANCEThe present study describes the role played by a DNA repair protein (MutM) in protecting the soil bacteriumBacillus subtilisfrom the genotoxic effects induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoter agents. Moreover, it reveals that the genetic inactivation ofmutMallows nutritionally stressed bacteria to escape from growth-limiting conditions, putatively by a mechanism that involves the accumulation and error-prone processing of oxidized DNA bases.