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Aphidicolin inhibits the synthesis and joining of short DNA fragments but not the union of 10-kilobase DNA replication intermediates.

DNA replication intermediates in human melanoma cells have been investigated by using the drug aphidicolin, which inhibits DNA polymerase alpha. In untreated cells, Okazaki fragments and 10-kilobase (kb) DNA intermediates are formed. In aphidicolin-treated cells, the replication fork is stopped and there is no formation of DNA replication intermediates. However, 10-kb DNA intermediates formed before the drug blockade are ligated to high molecular weight DNA whereas already formed Okazaki fragments accumulate in the cell. Moreover, in cells released from aphidicolin inhibition there is preferential labeling of 10-kb DNA compared to Okazaki fragments. The 10-kb DNA and the Okazaki fragments, therefore, respond differently to aphidicolin.

Aphidicolin↗

Emetine allows identification of origins of mammalian DNA replication by imbalanced DNA synthesis, not through conservative nucleosome segregation.

In the presence of emetine, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, nascent DNA on forward arms of replication forks in hamster cell lines containing either single or amplified copies of the DHFR gene region was enriched 5- to 7-fold over nascent DNA on retrograde arms. This forward arm bias was observed on both sides of the specific origin of bidirectional DNA replication located 17 kb downstream of the hamster DHFR gene (OBR-1), consistent with at least 85% of replication forks within this region emanating from OBR-1. However, the replication fork asymmetry induced by emetine does not result from conservative nucleosome segregation, as previously believed, but from preferentially inhibiting Okazaki fragment synthesis on retrograde arms of forks to produce 'imbalanced DNA synthesis'. Three lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, the bias existed in long nascent DNA strands prior to nuclease digestion of non-nucleosomal DNA. Second, the fraction of RNA-primed Okazaki fragments was rapidly diminished. Third, electron microscopic analysis of SV40 DNA replicating in the presence of emetine revealed forks with single-stranded DNA on one arm, and nucleosomes randomly distributed to both arms. Thus, as with cycloheximide, nucleosome segregation in the presence of emetine was distributive.

Animals↗

Design and characterization of N2-arylaminopurines which selectively inhibit replicative DNA synthesis and replication-specific DNA polymerases: guanine derivatives active on mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and bacterial DNA polymerase III.

The 2-amino substituted derivatives of guanine, N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)guanine (BuPG) and N2-(3',4'-trimethylenephenyl) guanine (TMPG), were synthesized and found to selectively inhibit, respectively, HeLa cell DNA polymerase alpha (po1 alpha) and B. subtilis DNA polymerase III (po1 III). Both purines, like their corresponding uracil analogs, BuAu and TMAU (2,9), were specifically competitive with dGTP in their inhibitory action on their target polymerases. BuPG, the pol alpha-specific purine, was also toxic for HeLa cells in vivo, selectively inhibiting DNA synthesis. These N2-substituted purines, in contrast to the 6-substituted uracils, provide a structural basis for the synthesis of nucleosides and nucleotides with considerable potential as probes for the analysis of the structure of specific replicative DNA polymerases and their function in cellular DNA metabolism.

Bacillus subtilis↗

A gene that regulates DNA replication in response to DNA damage is located on human chromosome 4q.

Inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis following gamma-irradiation is observed in eukaryotic cells but is defective in cells derived from patients with the cancer-prone inherited disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) and in A-T-like Chinese hamster cell mutants. Chinese hamster cells show a less pronounced inhibition of DNA synthesis after gamma-irradiation when compared to irradiated human HeLa or mouse A9 cells. Therefore, to identify new human genes involved in the regulation of DNA replication in response to ionizing radiation in mammalian cells, single human chromosomes were introduced into Chinese hamster cells by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. It is found that a new gene on human chromosome 4q inhibits DNA synthesis following gamma- and UV irradiation in hamster cells. However, this delay of DNA replication did not improve cell survival or the level of chromosomal aberrations induced by X-rays, indicating that the lack of the inhibition of DNA synthesis after X-irradiation is not a prerequisite for the X-ray sensitivity and chromosomal instability, which is observed in A-T and A-T-like hamster cells.

Animals↗

Early-replicating DNA from mosquito cells is associated with a distinct EcoRI fragment.

In an effort to define an origin of bi-directional DNA replication (OBR) in mosquito genomic DNA, we applied methods that take advantage of characteristic features of single-stranded DNA to methotrexate-resistant Aedes albopictus cells. The Mtx-5011-256 cells contained approximately 1000 copies of a 200 kb amplicon containing the dihydrofolate reductase locus, which likely contained one or more replication origins. When Mtx-5011-256 cells were synchronized by treatment with hydroxyurea, released into the S phase of the cell cycle, and labeled in vivo with tritiated DNA precursors, a 1.9 kb EcoRI fragment was preferentially labeled in EcoRI-digested genomic DNA. Similarly, we detected a 1.9 kb EcoRI fragment in DNA from wild type cells after cell cycle synchronization and in vivo labeling. In a complementary method, unlabeled single-stranded DNA was isolated from Mtx-5011-256 cells, labeled in vitro, and hybridized to EcoRI-digested genomic DNA from mosquito cells. The labeled probe hybridized preferentially to a 1.9 kb fragment. Finally, a 1.9 kb EcoRI fragment was detected when nascent DNA was recovered from unsynchronized cells, made double-stranded by in vitro labeling, and digested with EcoRI. Taken together, these results suggest that in Aedes albopictus mosquito cells, many replication origins used at different times during S are flanked by EcoRI sites that define a 1.9 kb fragment, which has become more abundant in Mtx-5011-256 cells because it occurs in the dhfr amplicon. Tentative mapping of this origin to amplicon DNA remains ambiguous, further suggesting that a repeated sequence element occurs at or near the origin of replication.

Aedes↗

Reconstructing DNA replication kinetics from small DNA fragments.

In higher organisms, DNA replicates simultaneously from many origins. Recent in vitro experiments have yielded large amounts of data on the state of replication of DNA fragments. From measurements of the time dependence of the average size of replicated and nonreplicated domains, one can estimate the rate of initiation of DNA replication origins, as well as the average rate at which DNA bases are copied. One problem in making such estimates is that, in the experiments, the DNA is broken up into small fragments, whose finite size can bias downward the measured averages. Here, we present a systematic way of accounting for this bias by deriving theoretical relationships between the original domain-length distributions and fragment-domain length distributions. We also derive unbiased average-domain-length estimators that yield accurate results, even in cases where the replicated (or nonreplicated) domains are larger than the average DNA fragment. Then we apply these estimators to previously obtained experimental data to extract improved estimates of replication kinetics parameters.

Animals↗

Biochemical basis of DNA replication fidelity.

DNA polymerase is the critical enzyme maintaining genetic integrity during DNA replication. Individual steps in the replication process that contribute to DNA synthesis fidelity include nucleotide insertion, exonucleolytic proofreading, and binding to and elongation of matched and mismatched primer termini. Each process has been investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to resolve 32P-labeled primer molecules extended by polymerase. We describe how integrated gel band intensities can be used to obtain site-specific velocities for addition of correct and incorrect nucleotides, extending mismatched compared to correctly matched primer termini and measuring polymerase dissociation rates and equilibrium DNA binding constants. The analysis is based on steady-state "single completed hit conditions", where polymerases encounter many DNA molecules but where each DNA encounters an enzyme at most once. Specific topics addressed include nucleotide misinsertion, mismatch extension, exonucleolytic proofreading, single nucleotide discrimination using PCR, promiscuous mismatch extension by HIV-1 and AMV reverse transcriptases, sequence context effects on fidelity and polymerase dissociation, structural and kinetic properties of mispairs relating to fidelity, error avoidance mechanisms, kinetics of copying template lesions, the "A-rule" for insertion at abasic template lesions, an interesting exception to the "A-rule", thermodynamic and kinetic determinants of base pair discrimination by polymerases.

Animals↗

Negative control of DNA replication by hydrolysis of ATP bound to DnaA protein, the initiator of chromosomal DNA replication in Escherichia coli.

DnaA protein, the initiation factor for chromosomal DNA replication in Escherichia coli, is activated by ATP. ATP bound to DnaA protein is slowly hydrolyzed to ADP, but the physiological role of ATP hydrolysis is unclear. We constructed, by site-directed mutagenesis, mutated DnaA protein with lower ATPase activity, and we examined its function in vitro and in vivo. The ATPase activity of purified mutated DnaA protein (Glu204-->Gln) decreased to one-third that of the wild-type DnaA protein. The mutation did not significantly affect the affinity of DnaA protein for ATP or ADP. The mutant dnaA gene showed lethality in wild-type cells but not in cells growing independently of the function of oriC. Induction of the mutated DnaA protein in wild-type cells caused an overinitiation of DNA replication. Our results lead to the thesis that the intrinsic ATPase activity of DnaA protein negatively regulates chromosomal DNA replication in E. coli cells.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Multiple interlinked mechanisms to circumvent DNA replication roadblocks.

DNA replication is a fragile process, since unavoidable lesions in the template DNA cause replicative polymerases to stall, posing a serious threat to genome integrity. Homologous recombination, translesion DNA synthesis and de novo reinitiation of DNA synthesis ensure robust replication by navigating it passed damaged DNA. In this review, we highlight the relationship between these three processes.

Animals↗

Early events in eukaryotic DNA replication.

Eukaryotic DNA replication is a tightly regulated process that occurs during a discrete period of the cell cycle known as S phase. Recent work in two different systems has identified key participants in this process and characterized many of the protein-protein interactions required for the establishment of functional replication complexes. From these results, an understanding of how the control of DNA replication is exercised during the cell cycle appears to be on the horizon.

Journal Article↗

Okazaki pieces grow opposite to the replication fork direction during simian virus 40 DNA replication.

Simian virus 40 replicating DNA was pulse labeled with alpha-32P-dATP using an acellular DNA replication system. Nascent DNA chains of less than 200 nucleotides (Okazaki pieces) were then isolated from the denatured replicating DNA by electrosieving through a polyacrylamide gel column. The purified Okazaki pieces were hybridized to separated strands of Bg1(1)+Hpa1 simian virus 40 DNA restriction fragments immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. Only strands with polarity of the DNA replication fork direction hybridized with Okazaki pieces. Hence, Okazaki pieces in simian virus 40 are synthesized against the DNA replication fork direction.

DNA Replication↗

Regulation of DNA replication during the cell cycle: roles of Cdc7 kinase and coupling of replication, recombination, and repair in response to replication fork arrest.

DNA replication is central to cell growth, development, and generation of tissues and organs. Recent advances in understanding replication machinery have revealed striking conservation of components involved in the processes of DNA replication, from yeasts to human. The conservation extends even to bacteria for some basic components of replication apparatus. Eukaryotic DNA replication is regulated at various stages to ensure strict regulation during cell cycle. We have identified a novel mammalian kinase, Cdc7-ASK (Activator of S phase Kinase), that plays a key role at the entry into S phase as a molecular switch for DNA replication. This kinase is specifically activated during S phase and triggers the firing of DNA replication by phosphorylating an essential DNA helicase component of the replication complex. Environmental stresses such as DNA damages or depletion of essential nutrients for DNA synthesis lead to unscheduled arrest of DNA replication forks. In bacteria, this leads to induction of altered modes of DNA replication, which may repair DNA damages, facilitate reassembly of replication machinery at the stalled replication fork, or do both. In eukaryotes, blocking replication forks usually induces both checkpoint responses, which prevent premature progression of cell cycle events before precise completion of the preceding cell cycle stage, and the recombinational repair system for the lesions. Possible common bases in recognition of stalled replication forks in bacteria and eukaryotes will be discussed. Furthermore, we will discuss the potential of replication and checkpoint proteins as targets of anticancer agents as well as possible novel technology for stem cell amplification through manipulation of DNA replication.

Animals↗

Mapping origins of DNA replication in eukaryotes.

Methods are described here to map an origin of replication in eukaryotes. Replicating DNA is enriched by BND cellulose column chromatography and by lambda-exonuclease digestion; this approach has largely superceded enrichment by BrdU incorporation. The general area in which replication begins can be deciphered by neutral/neutral 2D gel electrophoresis: a restriction fragment containing the replication bubble will form a bubble arc on these gels. A more sensitive method employs PCR analysis of nascent strands that are size-fractionated. Once the general area containing the origin of bidirectional replication has been mapped, a finer level of resolution can be obtained by replication initiation point (RIP) mapping, in which start sites of DNA synthesis are identified at the nucleotide level.

Animals↗

The mechanism of cytoplasmic orthopoxvirus DNA replication.

Orthopoxvirus DNA replication occurs in the cytoplasm of infected cells within discrete foci designated as virosomes. We show that newly synthesized rabbit poxvirus (RPV) virosomal DNA consists predominantly of concatamers wherein unit length molecules are joined by fusion of two left (LL) or right (RR) ends, resulting in genomes aligned in alternating head-to-head and tail-to tail mirror image arrays. These concatameric molecules serve as the substrates from which unit length DNA molecules are excised during morphogenesis. We propose a mechanism by which internal deletions within these concatameric arrays prior to genome excision and packaging could create inverted terminal repeats and generate gene duplications.

Cytoplasm↗

A plasmid DNA primase active in discontinuous bacterial DNA replication.

A DNA primase encoded by an IncI alpha plasmid promotes efficient DNA replication in a primase-defective mutant of Escherichia coli. This finding implies that the plasmid enzyme can prime discontinuous DNA synthesis of the bacterial chromosome. The plasmid gene encodes two large, antigenically related proteins which differ from E. coli primase.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗