Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

M F Singer

Publications and source records attributed to M F Singer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Three segments from the monkey genome that hybridize to simian virus 40 have common structural elements.

Three cloned segments that hybridize to a region of simian virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid including the origin of replication have been isolated from a monkey genomic library. The primary structure of one segment was previously reported (T. McCutchan and M. Singer, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:95-99, 1981). We report here the sequences of the other two segments and a comparison of all three. The SV 40-hybridizing region in each segment is limited to several hundred base pairs. All of the segments contain multiple and disconnected sequences homologous to the region of SV40 directly surrounding the viral replication origin. The number and arrangement of the homologous sequences is different in the three segments. However, the segments have the following features in common: (i) each contains multiple copies of the sequence GGGCGGPuPu, which also appears six times near the origin of SV40; (ii) each contains several strong homologies to the central dyad symmetry of SV40; (iii) each contains a long internal repeat, as does the origin region of SV40. The three SV40-hybridizing segments are members of a larger family of genomic sequences that hybridize well to each other, but not necessarily to SV40.

Animals

Preferential replication of a class of host-substituted defective simian virus 40 variants at low temperature.

The host-substituted variant termed CVP8/1/P2 (EcoRI res) was first isolated several years ago after serial passage of simian virus 40 strain 777 on BSC-1 cells at 37 degrees C. When BSC-1 are coinfected with wild-type simian virus 40 strain 777 and variant CVP8/1/P2 (EcoRI res), the variant rapidly becomes the dominant species produced, often representing as much as 80% of the total DNA I synthesized after infection. We present evidence that the replicative advantage of the variant was increased when the infection was carried out at 33 rather than 37 degrees C. Also described are nine new and independent serial passage experiments carried out at 33 degrees C with several purified wild-type virus stocks, including strain 776, and both BSC-1 and primary African green monkey kidney cells. In each series variants related to CVPs/1/P2 (EcoRI res) were detected in the progeny viral genomes after four serial passages. Hybridization data suggest that at least some of these variant DNA I molecules contain simian virus 40 DNA sequences, monkey alpha-component DNA sequences (highly repetitive), and the infrequently reiterated monkey DNA sequences found in CVP8/1/P2 (EcoRI res), all covalently linked as in CPV8/1/P2 (EcoRI res). It appears that this type of variant emerges with some frequency during infection and is then preferentially replicated at 33 degrees C, thereby becoming readily detectable in passaged stocks. A variety of control experiments indicated that the repeated emergence of similar, if not identical, variants is unlikely to be the result of inadvertent cross-contamination or the presence of detectable amounts of the variant in the plaque-purified viral stocks.

Animals

Comparison of two viable variants of simian virus 40.

The DNAs of two viable strains of simian virus 40, 776 and 777, have been compared by using restriction endonucleases. Differences between the two strains were detected at five separate points on the simian virus 40 genome. One of these differences, in the region of DNA coding for the major viral coat protein, was confirmed by tryptic peptide analysis of coat proteins from the two strains. Some physiological differences between the two strains were examined and can, in general, be explained by differences observed between the DNAs of the two strains. In addition, defective variants derived from strain 777 interfere more efficiently with the replication of strain 777 than with the replication of strain 776.

DNA Restriction Enzymes

Studies on a defective variant of simian virus 40 that is substituted with DNA sequences derived from monkey. II. Structure of DNA.

The structure of a substituted, reiterated defective variant of the simian virus 40 genome has been analyzed. The DNA of the defective variant is a closed circular duplex resistant to restriction endonuclease R-EcoRI and slightly shorter than the genome of wild type simian virus 40. Analysis of the double-stranded DNA segments produced by the action of a variety of restriction endonucleases on the defective genome allow description of the molecule as follows. (a) The full DNA molecule contains four tandem repeats of a DNA segment containing both SV40 and monkey DNA sequences. (b) Three out of the four segments are identical and are about 23% of the wild type genome in length: one segment of the four is larger and contains an additional peice of DNA about 4.3% of a wild type genome in length, but is otherwise identical with the other three segments. (c) Portions of the defective variant that contain monkey DNA can be isolated as discrete segments by restriction endonuclease digestion. (d) Some of the sequences originating from monkey DNA are derived from the highly reiterated class of monkey DNA sequences; others may represent sequences derived from infrequently reiterated or single copy monkey sequences.

Animals

The effect of H1 histone on the action of DNA-relaxing enzyme.

The action of DNA-relaxing enzyme on H1-DNA complexes was investigated. Complexes of superhelical and relaxed closed circular duplex DNA with H1 were treated with mammalian relaxing enzyme, deproteinized, and electrophoresed on agarose gels. At relatively low ratios of H1 to superhelical DNA, molecules of superhelical density intermediate between those of the starting material and relaxed DNA, the normal product, were generated. At relatively high H1 histone concentrations (H1:DNA greater than 0.4 w/w), the superhelical DNA was not relaxed. Further, no superhelical turns were introduced into relaxed closed duplex DNA at any concentration of H1 tested. Thus, the binding of H1 histone to DNA prevents the action of the relaxing enzyme. Moreover, H1 histone does not appear to unwind the DNA duplex upon binding. The implications of these observations and the previously demonstrated specificity of H1 histone for superhelical DNA are discussed in relation to the structure of chromatin.

DNA, Circular

Histone synthesis during infection of monkey kidney cells with Simian Virus 40.

The synthesis of histones during lytic infection of BSC-1 (African Green Monkey kidney) cells with SV40 has been investigated. The synthesis of all five classes of histones was stimulated, and all classes appeared to be stimulated to the same extent. The increase in rate of histone synthesis in response to SV40 infection was detectable several hours before SV40 DNA synthesis was measureable, and the rate of histone synthesis decreased at a time when SV40 DNA synthesis was occuring at a maximal or relatively high rate. In addition, the changes in rates of histone synthesis did not correlate well with the rates of host DNA synthesis during infection. Thus it appears that DNA synthesis and histone synthesis may not be strictly coupled in SV40 infected cells.

Cell Line

H5 Histone and DNA-relaxing enzyme of chicken erythrocytes. Interaction with superhelical DNA.

The interaction of closed circular duplex DNA with the lysine-rich H5 histone fraction of avian erythrocytes has been studied. H5, like H1 histone, interacts preferentially with superhelical DNA. The extent of interaction increases with increasing negative or positive superhelicity. Salt-extracted lysine-rich histones show the same specificity for interaction with superhelices as do acid-extracted preparations. Chicken erythrocyte nuclei contain DNA-relaxing enzyme. This enzyme is extracted from the nuclei at lower salt concentrations than those required to extract H1 and H5 histones and is, therefore, probably a function of a protein distinct from H1 and H5 histones.

Animals

The effect of superhelicity on the interaction of histone f1 with closed circular duplex DNA.

A set of covalently closed circular duplex simian virus 40 DNA preparations of varying superhelical densities was prepared by closure of nicked duplex DNA with polynucleotide ligase in the presence of varying amounts of ethidium. The resulting molecules were tested for complex formation with the lysine-rich histone f1. The results confirmed earlier experiments in demonstrating that f1 histone reacts preferentially with superhelical DNA compared to relaxed circular DNA. Furthermore, the extent of the reaction is demonstrated to depend on the superhelical density. At the relatively low ratios of histone to DNA used in these experiments, the product of the interaction of f1 histone with superhelical DNA does not precipitate. At higher ratios of histone to DNA, an insoluble aggregate is formed.

DNA, Circular

In situ hybridization of repetitive monkey genome sequences isolated from defective simian virus 40 DNA.

The origin of a repetitive monkey DNA sequence that is incorporated into a defective simian virus 40 genome has been studied. A fragment (about 140 base pairs in length) containing essentially all the repetitive monkey DNA present in the defective and few, if any, SV40 sequences can be cleaved from the purified defective DNA by restriction endonucleases Hind(II and III). Radioactive cRNA prepared with the isolated fragment as template was hybridized in situ to African green monkey chromosomes. The results indicate that all or part of the sequence in question occurs at both centromeric and noncentromeric positions in many, but not all, chromosomes. Of the typical 60 chromosomes, between nine and eleven hybridize with the cRNA in noncentromeric regions.

Base Sequence

Studies on the interaction of H1 histone with superhelical DNA: characterization of the recognition and binding regions of H1 histones.

The very lysine rich histone, H1, isolated from a variety of sources interacts preferentially with superhelical DNA compared to relaxed DNA duplexes. The nature of this specific interaction has been investigated by studying the ability of various purified fragments of H1 histone from calf thymus to recognize and bind superhelical DNA. The data suggest that the globular region of the H1 histone molecule (amino acid residues 72-106) is involved in the recognition of superhelical DNA. Thus, the H1 histone carboxy-terminal fragment, 72-212, resembles native H1 histone both quantitatively and qualitatively in its ability to discriminate between and bind to superhelical and relaxed DNA while the H1 histone carboxy-terminal fragment, residues 106-212, has lost this specificity, binding superhelical and relaxed DNA equally well. Furthermore, under conditions in which the globular region of the intact H1 histone has been unfolded, the molecule loses its ability to discriminate between superhelical and relaxed DNA, and binds both forms of DNA equally.

Animals

Simian virus 40 DNA replication in nuclear monolayers.

Simian virus 40 DNA replication has been studied in nuclear monolayers prepared by treatment of monolayers of BSC-1 monkey kidney cells with Nonidet P-40. These nuclear monolayers incorporated [3H]TTP into two types of viral replicative intermediates that sediment as 25-26S and 22-23S species, respectively, in neutral sucrose gradients. The 22-23S species behaves, in dye buoyant density equilibrium gradients, as a late replicative intermediate. Examination of both species in alkaline sucrose gradients revealed the presence of two types of newly synthesized strands: (i) 4-7S strands and (ii) full-length, or nearly full-length, 10-16S strands. At low TTP concentrations (less than 0.5 muM), the two size classes were found in approximately equal amounts. However, at 10 to 50 muM TTP, the proportion of the longer strands increased, with a corresponding decrease in the relative amount of the 4-7S species. Thus, the joining of small, Okazaki-like fragments to the growing chain appears to require a much higher concentration of TTP than the synthesis of the fragments themselves. Replicating simian virus 40 DNA synthesized in the nuclear monolayers is is associated with "M bands", as previously demonstrated for replicating simian virus 40 DNA in cultured whole cells.

Cell Line

Kinetic studies on the phosphorolysis of polynucleotides by polynucleotide phosphorylase.

The kinetics of the phosphorolysis of polynucleotide (as differentiated from oligonucleotide) by polynucleotide phosphorylase of Micrococcus luteus has been investigated. Double reciprocal plots of initial velocity against either inorganic phosphate or polynucleotide concentration are linear, and furthermore, the affinity of the enzyme for either substrate is unaffected by the presence of the other. dADP, an analogue of ADP product, is a competitive inhibitor with respect to Pi and polynucleotidy. (Ap)tA-cyclic-p is a competitive inhibitor with respect to Pi. The results are almost identical with both primer-independent (Form-I) and primer-dependent (Form-T) enzymes, although the various kinetic constants differ. On the vasis of these data a rapid equilibrium random Bi Bi mechanism is proposed. The demonstration of two different inhibitor constants for dADP and the difference between the Michaelis and the inhibitor constant for polyadenylic acid in polynucleotide phosphorolysis indicate at least two binding sites for polyadenylic acid and dADP on M. luteus polynucleotide phosphorylase. Its is suggested that in the phosphorolysis of long chain polymers the second binding site permits the polynucleotide to snap right back into position after removal of I mononucleotide unit and thus leads to the observed processive degradation. A general discussion of oligonucleotide and polynucleotide phosphorolysis and the differences between Form-I and Form-T enzymes in de novo synthesis and degradation of polynucleotides is presented.

Binding Sites