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R D Wells

Publications and source records attributed to R D Wells.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Raman spectroscopy study of the B-Z transition in (dG-dC)n.(dG-dC)n and a DNA restriction fragment.

The B to Z conformational transition of (dG-dC)n.(dG-dC)n and a 157 bp DNA restriction fragment were followed using Raman spectroscopy. The 157 bp DNA has a 95 bp segment from the E. coli lactose operon sandwiched between 26 and 32 bp of (dC-dG) sequences. Raman spectra of the DNAs were obtained at varying sodium chloride concentrations through the region of the transition. A data analysis procedure was developed to subtract the background curves and quantify Raman vibrational bands. Profiles of relative intensity vs. sodium chloride concentration are shown for bands at 626, 682, 831-833 and 1093 cm-1. Both (dG-dC)n.(dG-dC)n and the 157 bp DNA show changes in the guanine vibration at 682 cm-1 and backbone band at 831-3 cm-1 preceding a highly cooperative change in the 1093 cm-1 PO2- vibration. This result indicates that there are at least two conformational steps in the B to Z conformational pathway. We review the effect of the (dC-dG) portion of the 157 bp DNA on the 95 bp segment. Comparison of Raman spectra of the 157 bp DNA, the 95 bp fragment and (dG-dC)n.(dG-dC)n indicate that in 4.5 M NaCl the (dC-dG) segments are in a Z-conformation. Base stacking in the 95 bp portion of the 157 bp DNA appears to maintain a B-type conformation. However, a substantial portion of this region no longer has a B-type backbone vibration.

DNA↗
PubMed1983

Left-handed Z-DNA helices in polymers, restriction fragments, and recombinant plasmids.

Studies on DNA polymers, restriction fragments, and recombinant plasmids have revealed the following: A) A family of left-handed DNA conformations exists for (dC-dG)n.(dC-dG)n. The observation of a particular conformation is dependent on the salt, the salt concentration and dehydrating agent. B) In sodium acetate solutions, (dC-dG)n.(dC-dG)n forms left-handed, psi(+)-condensed structures as detected by Raman spectroscopy and circular dichroism. C) (dT-dG)n.(dC-dA)n undergoes a right-to-left-handed transition only when reacted with AAF and at high salt concentrations. D) Transitions observed for polymer DNAs also are observed for restriction fragments containing both (dC-dG).(dC-dG) and (dT-dG).(dC-dA) sequences, but the transitions in the fragments generally require higher salt concentrations than observed for the polymers. E) Studies with recombinant plasmids containing (dC-dG) sequences from 10 to 58 bp in length demonstrate that left-handed Z-DNA segments can exist contiguous to B-DNA segments. F) Negative supercoil density (sigma less than or equal to -0.072) is sufficient to convert the (dC-dG) regions in those plasmids into left-handed structures under physiological ionic conditions (200 mM NaCl). G) The favorable free energy contribution of methylation in stabilizing the Z form in fragments and plasmids is approximately offset by the unfavorable free energy contributions of the B/Z junctions. H) Sl and BAL 31 nucleases recognize aberrant structural features at the confluence of the B and Z regions. I) Detailed mapping of Sl nuclease cleavage on supercoiled plasmids shows that the nuclease sensitive regions extend over at least five to ten bp. J) Even though the (dT-dG)n.(dC-dA)n polymer requires base modification and high salt conditions to undergo the R----L transition, supercoiling (sigma less than or equal to -0.07) can supply enough energy to allow a plasmid containing the intervening sequence of a human fetal globin gene with (dT-dG).(dC-dA) sequences to undergo a R----L transition.

DNA↗
PubMed1982

Effects of neighboring DNA homopolymers on the biochemical and physical properties of the Escherichia coli lactose promoter. I. Cloning and characterization studies.

To assess the role of neighboring DNA sequences in gene regulation, poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dG).poly(dC) were cloned adjacent to promoters of the lactose control region. Recombinant plasmids were constructed which were suitable for large scale purification of restriction fragments containing these promoters, 95-base pair (bp) AluI fragments containing the lack operator and promoter for the lac wild type and for the catabolite gene activating the protein-independent mutant, lac UV5, were cloned into pBR322. Homopolymers of varying lengths were inserted into the -60 region of these promoters using recombinant DNA techniques. Six of the recombinant plasmids were chosen for detailed analysis: wild type (wt); wt-AT, containing 70 bp of poly(dA).poly(dT); wt-GC, containing 23 bp of poly(dG).poly(dC); UV5; UV5-AT, containing 70 bp of poly(dA).poly(dT) and finally UV5-GC, containing 43 bp of poly(dG).poly(dC). These plasmids were characterized by restriction mapping and DNA sequencing. The effects of the DNA homopolymers on the interaction of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with the promoters were studied using nitrocellulose filter binding. The results show that poly(dA).poly(dT) increases the level of RNA polymerase binding, whereas poly(dG).poly(dC) has no detectable effect.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Effects of Neighboring DNA homopolymers on the biochemical and physical properties of the Escherichia coli lactose promoter. II. In vitro transcription analyses.

Transcription studies were conducted on the primary promoter (which initiates at +1) of lac wild type (wt) and UV5 that had insertions of poly(dA).poly(dT) or poly(dG).poly(dC) in their -60 region. This series of recombinant DNAs was designed to study systematically the effect of neighboring DNA sequences on the lac promoter. Investigations using linear templates showed that wild type expression was enhanced by the poly(dA).poly(dT) insertion, whereas UV5 activity was not affected by this polymer. Neither the wt nor the UV5 promoter was influenced by the presence of poly(dG).poly(dC). Quantitation of abortive transcripts from supercoiled templates showed that the influence of the polymers on promoter activity was small. Comparative studies of the primary promoter with a secondary promoter (which initiates near -22), activated by 25% glycerol, were performed.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1982

Effects of neighboring DNA homopolymers on the biochemical and physical properties of the Escherichia coli lactose promoter. III. High resolution thermal denaturation and circular dichroism studies.

High resolution thermal denaturation and circular dichroism studies were performed on a series of six recombinant DNA restriction fragments. The fragments varied in size from 132 to 193 bp and contained Escherichia coli wild type and UV5 lactose promoters both with and without homopolymer insertions of poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dG).poly(dC). A differential thermal destabilization of the wild type promoter region, as compared to the UV5 promoter, was observed when dA70.dT70 was inserted into the -60 region or both DNAs. This effect may depend, in part, on the differences in the base composition between adjoining cooperative units in the fragments. The relatively larger effect of the AT sequence on the wild type promoter region may be correlated with the increased levels of in vitro transcription activity described in the preceding paper (Klein, R. D., and Wells, R. D. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 12962-12969). Stretches of homopolymeric GC base pairs stabilized the wild type and UV5 promoter regions by over 2.5 degrees C. CD studies could not detect conformational differences between DNAs containing the wild type or UV5 promoter. The presence of homopolymers had a marked effect on the CD spectra of the fragments.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1982

Bacteriophage T7 late promoters: construction and in vitro transcription properties of deletion mutants.

The construction of plasmids containing T7 class I promoters with deletion mutants was described. Restriction fragments, ending at the Hinf I site located at position -10 in the promoter from 14.8% of the T7 genome, were cloned into pBR322. This produced the deletion of either the left or the right part of the promoter. The in vitro transcription properties of these plasmids were determined. Control plasmids were obtained by cloning wild type class II and class III promoters into pBR322. These plasmids also were used to compare the in vitro transcription properties of the two classes of late promoters. Much of the leftward part of a T7 late promoter can be deleted without abolishing activity, but deletion of the right part eliminates promoter activity. Class II, class III, and the mutated promoters have characteristic responses to changes in ionic strength, exogenous glycerol, and temperature.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Left-handed Z-DNA is induced by supercoiling in physiological ionic conditions.

In physiological ionic conditions (200 mM NaCl), the (dC-dG)16 and (dC-dG)13 blocks in plasmid pRW751 are in a left-handed state when the negative superhelical density of the plasmid is greater than 0.972. As the salt concentration decreases or when (dmC-dG) sequences are present, less negative supercoiling is required to induce the right- to left-handed DNA transition. Furthermore, the single strand-specific nuclease, S1, recognizes and cleaves aberrant structural features at the junction between neighbouring right- and left-handed DNA regions.

DNA, Superhelical↗
PubMed1982

Spectroscopic studies on acetylaminofluorene-modified (dT-dG)n . (dC-dA)n suggest a left-handed conformation.

CD spectroscopy on the double-stranded strictly alternating dinucleotide polymer (dT-dG)n . (dC-dA)n partially modified by N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene suggests a left-handed conformation in concentrated NaCl solutions. Modification of the (dT-dG)n . (dC-dA)n polymer with acetylaminofluorene is required to promote formation of the left-handed helix since high salt concentrations and several other ionic conditions, which cause a similar transition for (dG-dC)n . (dG-dC)n, are ineffective. Furthermore, substitution of dC with 5-methyl dC in (dT-dG)n . (dC-dA)n does not facilitate formation of a left-handed helix, also in contrast to results found for (dG-dC)n . (dG-dC)n. A 62-base pair tract of almost perfectly alternating (dT-dG)n . (dC-dA)n from the 3'-side of the mouse kappa immunoglobulin gene modified with acetylaminofluorene undergoes the salt-induced transition to a left-handed helix when studied within a 140-base pair restriction fragment. High NaCl concentrations alone will not cause the transition for this 62-base pair tract in this fragment nor in the recombinant plasmid pRW777, which contains this fragment.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1982

Left-handed DNA. Cloning, characterization, and instability of inserts containing different lengths of (dC-dG) in Escherichia coli.

Recombinant pBR322 derivatives were constructed containing tracts of (dC-dG) sequences which are 58, 32, 26, and 10 base pairs (bp) in length in conjunction with a 95-bp fragment containing the Escherichia coli lac operator-promoter. The biological properties of these plasmids were unusual since deletions in the (dC-dG) regions, but not in the pBR322 nor the lac segments, were frequently observed; segments of (dC-dG) longer than approximately 50 bp were not stable but suffered deletions. Segments of approximately 30 bp or shorter were stable in most cases. The (dC-dG) tracts seemed to enhance recA-mediated recombination when they were of suitable length and were cloned into certain sites in the recombinants. Also the (dC-dG)-containing plasmids were less supercoiled (by 6-12 turns) than expected, relative to control plasmids, after isolation from E. coli hosts. These recombinant plasmids were used in the following paper to evaluate the properties of segments containing the unorthodox left-handed conformations.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1982

Energetic and structural inter-relationship between DNA supercoiling and the right- to left-handed Z helix transitions in recombinant plasmids.

We have evaluated the B to Z conformational transitions in supercoiled recombinant plasmids containing different lengths of (dC-dG) described in the preceding paper. The sodium chloride-induced right- to left-handed transition in a small segment of the plasmids caused a relaxation of (-) supercoils which was monitored by electrophoretic mobility changes of individual topoisomers on agarose gels containing NaCl at concentrations up to 5.0 M. The number of supercoils relaxed was proportional to the length of the (dC-dG) segment in the plasmid in good agreement with theoretical values. A short B/Z junction region (less than 5 base pairs) was inferred. The stability of the Z conformation in (dC-dG) segments of the plasmids had a strong length dependency; shorter lengths were less stable. Ten base pairs of (dC-dG) was insufficient to allow a Z conformation under the conditions studied. Supercoiling imparts a substantial favorable free energy to the Z conformation, reducing the NaCl concentration necessary to cause the transition. The relationship of supercoiling with the NaCl concentration necessary to cause a B leads to Z transition suggests that supercoiling alone is sufficient to stabilize the Z conformation at physiological salt concentrations. These results support the notion that left-handed DNA has an important biological role.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1982

Relationship between superhelical density and cruciform formation in plasmid pVH51.

The relative stability of the cruciform state at the large inverted repeat of plasmid pVH51 is measured. At physiological superhelical densities, the cruciform state is present in a high percentage of the plasmid molecules. Investigation of the relationship between negative superhelical density and cruciform prevalence reveals a sharp transition from an undetectable level to a relatively stable state. This transition occurs over the negative superhelical density range of 0.046 to 0.066. Estimates of the free energy contribution to cruciform formation resulting from loss of negative superhelical turns suggest that about 22 kcal/mol are required to generate the cruciform structure at this site in pVH51.

Calorimetry↗
PubMed1982

Orientation relaxation of DNA restriction fragments and the internal mobility of the double helix.

The orientation relaxation of 15 DNA restriction fragments (43-4361 base-pairs) is characterized by measurements of linear dichroism using high electric field pulses. The off-field relaxation of fragments of 84 base-pairs or less can be described by single exponentials, which are related to the transverse rotational diffusion of the helix. Fragments of 95 base-pairs or greater exhibit an additional fast component with time constants around 100 ns for fragments of approx. 100 base-pairs, increasing with chain length to about 700 ns for a fragment with 258 base-pairs. The amplitude of this process increases from virtually zero at low fields (approximately equal to 10 kV) to a substantial limit contribution at high fields. According to these results, we suggest that electric fields induce stretching of the DNA fragments from a weakly bent to a more straight form and that the fast component reflects the internal mobility of the DNA chain. The slow off-field components of the orientation are discussed in terms of different models. The data up to helix lengths of about 400 base-pairs can be described by the 'weakly bending rod' model from Hearst using 3.4 A rise per base-pair and 13 A axial radius of the helix. Both the weakly bending rod according to Hearst and the 'wormlike chain' according to Hagerman and Zimm provide a persistence length of 500 A. The on-field relaxation is slower than the corresponding off-field process at low field strengths, but the on-field process is accelerated substantially at high electric fields. These observations are compared with model calculations of Schwarz.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1982

Electric properties and structure of DNA-restriction fragments from measurements of the electric dichroism.

The electric dichroism of 17 homogeneous DNA fragments, ranging in size from 43 to 4362 base-pairs, has been analyzed in high electric fields. The orientation of the small fragments can be described in terms of an induced dipole moment, whereas the large fragments are oriented according to a constant dipole mechanism. In the intermediate size range, DNA orients according to an induced dipole mechanism at low field strengths and according to a constant dipole mechanism at high field strengths. From these observations we propose an orientation mechanism with a saturating induced dipole. The induced dipole observed at low field strengths is saturated at a field strength Eo within a transition range Em to give a constant dipole moment at high field strengths. These parameters together with the polarizability and the limit reduced dichroism are evaluated by a least-squares analysis of the experimental data. Eo and Em are found to decrease with increasing chain length from Eo approximately 40 kV/cm (Em approximately 14 kV/cm) at 65 base-pairs to 10 kV/cm (6 kV/cm) at 194 base-pairs. The polarizability is found to increase with the square of the chain length, whereas the saturated dipole increases with chain length N at low N and goes to a limit value at high N. The temperature dependence of the orientation parameters is found to be very small. The values obtained for the limit dichroism are between -1.0 and -1.3 for chain lengths between 60 and 1000 base-pairs, whereas values around -1.4 are observed at chain lengths greater than 1000 base-pairs. These data indicate that electric fields extend the contour of DNA strands at high chain lengths from a weakly bent to a more linear form. The variations of the limit dichroism observed for short fragments suggest sequence-dependent differences in the secondary structure of the helix. The experimental results are compared with numerical calculations based on simple polyelectrolyte models. For short fragments the magnitude of several electrochemical parameters can be adequately explained by a polarization of the ion cloud around the DNA molecules. However, these polyelectrolyte models do not adequately describe the observed chain length dependence of the orientation phenomena.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1982

Junction between Z and B conformations in a DNA restriction fragment: evaluation by Raman spectroscopy.

Raman vibrational spectra were obtained from two DNA restriction fragments and the DNA polymer (dG-dC)n . (dG-dC)n in 0.01 and 4.5 M NaCl. One fragment contained 95 base pairs (bp) of the Escherichia coli lactose operator-promoter region (95-bp fragment). The other fragment consisted of the 95-bp region flanked by 26 and 32 bp of dC-dG sequences and BamHI ends (157-bp fragment). In 0.01 M NaCl all three DNAs have Raman spectra characteristic of a right-handed B conformation. The high salt spectrum of the 95-bp fragment is also characteristic of a B conformation. However, the spectrum of the 157-bp fragment in 4.5 M NaCl shows major intensity changes from the 0.01 M NaCl spectrum. These changes are also observed in the high salt spectra of (dG-dC)n . (dG-dC)n and are correlated with the presence of a left-handed Z conformation. Comparisons between the high salt Raman spectra of the 157-bp fragment and spectra calculated from (dG-dC)n . (dG-dC)n and the 95-bp fragment indicated that essentially all of the dC-dG regions in the 157-bp fragment are in the Z conformation and a large part (approximately 80%) of the 95-bp region no longer has a B-type backbone vibration. However, this non-B-DNA-like character of the central region is not indicated by base vibrations.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1981

Circular dichroism spectra of twelve short DNA restriction fragments of known sequence: a comparison of measured and calculated spectra.

The CD spectra of twelve DNA restriction fragments ranging in size from 12 to 360 base pairs are reported. Since the sequences of these fragments are known, it is possible to calculate their CD spectra from a set of nearest neighbor contributions derived from a combination of synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides. While the calculations lead to good agreement in the negative band at approximately 245 nm, they generally reproduce the positive band at approximately 270 nm only poorly. The experimentally observed positive band consists of two peaks centered around 270 and 285 nm. The comparison of calculated and measured spectra reveals that end effects lead to increased disagreement for fragments smaller than approximately 40 base pairs. The disagreement between calculated and measured spectra can be partially attributed to the fraction of next nearest neighbors in the DNAs, which are also in the spectral components. Thus, the sequence specific CD contributions in the long wavelength region of the spectra extend at least to next nearest neighbor nucleotides and may extend beyond.

Base Composition↗