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Folded, concatenated genomes as replication intermediates of bacteriophage T7 DNA.

A complex form of bacteriophage T7 DNA, containing up to several hundred phage equivalents of DNA, arises during replication of T7. The complex was stable to treatment with ionic detergent, Pronase, and phenol. The complex form normally exists for only a short time, corresponding to the phase of rapid T7 DNA synthesis. It is then converted to shorter molecules, both concatemers and unit-size DNA. The complex was stable up to the temperature of denaturation of the bihelix. It consisted of a series of loops amanating from a dense central core, as shownby electron microscopy. The complex form is similar to the relaxed Escherichia coli folded chromosome ('nucleoid'). The loops contained an average of 0.7 to 0.8 phage equivalent of DNA. During infection by phage with an amber mutation in gene 3 (endonuclease), formation of the complex occurred normally, but its maturation to unit-size DNA blocked. Before treatment with phenol, the complex contained short fragments of newly replicated DNA. These were released as single-stranded pieces during phenol treatment. A pathway for T7 DNA replication is indicated in which the flow of material is from unit-size DNA to linear concatemers to the complex form, and then back to unit-size DNA by way of linear concatemers.

Coliphages↗

Initiation of DNA replication at cloned origins of bacteriophage T7.

Bacteriophage T7 DNA replication is initiated at a site 15% of the distance from the genetic left end of the chromosome. This primary origin contains two tandem T7 RNA polymerase promoters (phi 1.1A and phi 1.1B) followed by an A + T-rich region. When the primary origin region is deleted replication initiates at secondary origins. We have analyzed the ability of plasmids containing cloned fragments of T7 to replicate after infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T7. All cloned T7 fragments that support plasmid replication contain a T7 promoter but a T7 promoter alone is not sufficient for replication. Replication of plasmids containing the primary origin is dependent on T7 DNA polymerase and gene 4 protein (helicase/primase) and a portion of the A + T-rich region. The other T7 fragments that support plasmid replication after T7 infection are promoter regions phi OR, phi 13 and phi 6.5 (secondary origins). When both the primary and secondary origins are present simultaneously on compatible plasmids, replication of each is temporally regulated. Such regulation may play a role during T7 DNA replication.

Base Sequence↗

Relative roles of T7 RNA polymerase and gene 4 primase for the initiation of T7 phage DNA replication in vivo.

Initiation sites of T7 phage DNA replication in the presence and absence of T7 phage gene 4 primase have been analyzed by using Escherichia coli cells infected with T7 phage amber mutants, T73,6 and T73,4,6, respectively. Restriction analysis of the [3H]thymidine-labeled DNA, synthesized by the T73,4,6 phage-infected cells in the presence of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-azidothymidine, has shown that only the light (L) strand of T7 DNA has been synthesized from the primary origin area to the right. Transition sites from RNA to DNA have been located precisely in the primary origin region of the T7 phage genome. In the gene 4- condition, greater than 20 transition sites have been detected only in the L strand. They scattered widely downstream from the phi 1.1 promoters and mostly downstream from the phi 1.3 promoter. The same transition sites have been detected in the gene 4+ condition, suggesting that the transcripts started from these promoters are used as primers of the rightward L-strand DNA synthesis in the gene 4+ condition. In addition, many heavy (H)- and L-strand transition sites have been detected at gene 4 primase sites in the gene 4+ condition. The relative roles of T7 phage RNA polymerase and primase at the primary origin have been discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Lagging strand synthesis in coordinated DNA synthesis by bacteriophage t7 replication proteins.

The proteins of bacteriophage T7 DNA replication mediate coordinated leading and lagging strand synthesis on a minicircle template. A distinguishing feature of the coordinated synthesis is the presence of a replication loop containing double and single-stranded DNA with a combined average length of 2600 nucleotides. Lagging strands consist of multiple Okazaki fragments, with an average length of 3000 nucleotides, suggesting that the replication loop dictates the frequency of initiation of Okazaki fragments. The size of Okazaki fragments is not affected by varying the components (T7 DNA polymerase, gene 4 helicase-primase, gene 2.5 single-stranded DNA binding protein, and rNTPs) of the reaction over a relatively wide range. Changes in the size of Okazaki fragments occurs only when leading and lagging strand synthesis is no longer coordinated. The synthesis of each Okazaki fragment is initiated by the synthesis of an RNA primer by the gene 4 primase at specific recognition sites. In the absence of a primase recognition site on the minicircle template no lagging strand synthesis occurs. The size of the Okazaki fragments is not affected by the number of recognition sites on the template.

Bacteriophage T7↗

Gene 2 protein of bacteriophage T7: purification and requirement for packaging of T7 DNA in vitro.

The gene 2 protein of bacteriophage T7 is required for a late stage of T7 DNA replication because T7 gene 2 mutants fail to form normal concatemeric structures during the processing of newly synthesized T7 DNA. Extracts of gene 2 mutant phage-infected cells are unable to package T7 DNA into phage heads to form viable phage, as determined by an in vitro packaging assay for T7 DNA. Packaging activity can be stimulated greater than 100-fold in mutant extracts by the addition of extract prepared from cells infected with phage carrying a wild-type T7 gene 2, thus providing a complementation assay for the gene 2 protein. With this assay, the gene 2 protein has been purified to approximately 50% homogeneity. Purified preparations of the protein inhibit the activity of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase but have little effect on the activity of T7 RNA polymerase but have little effect on the activity of T7 RNA polymerase. The requirement for the gene 2 protein during T7 DNA replication may involve inactivation of E. coli RNA polymerase because the antibiotic rifampicin, a specific inhibitor of E. coli RNA polymerase, can substitute for the gene 2 protein in the in vitro packaging assay.

DNA, Viral↗

Purification and structures of recombining and replicating bacteriophage T7 DNA.

During the infection of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage T7, there is a gradual conversion of host DNA to T7 DNA. Recombination and replication occur during this time. We have devised a new way of examining the physical structures of the intermediates of these processes. It is based on the observation that there are no sites in T7 DNA susceptible to cleavage by the restriction endonuclease EcoRI. E. coli DNA, on the other hand, is susceptible to degradation by EcoRI. Thus, phage and host DNA can be separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation after treatment with EcoRI. Concatemeric T7 DNA contains a high proportion of branched, gapped, and whiskered structures. These appear to be intermediates of replication and recombination. This approach also monitors the conversion process from host to T7 DNA.

Coliphages↗

Coordination of leading and lagging strand DNA synthesis at the replication fork of bacteriophage T7.

We have used the T7 DNA replication system to examine coordination of leading and lagging strand synthesis at a replication fork. The 63 kd gene 4 protein provides both helicase and primase activities; we demonstrate that primer synthesis inhibits helicase activity on a synthetic replication fork. Lagging strand DNA synthesis by a complex of gene 4 protein and T7 DNA polymerase decreases the rate of leading strand synthesis. Both leading and lagging strand synthesis are resistant to dilution of the replication proteins, and to challenge with heparin. Furthermore, dilution does not increase the average length of Okazaki fragments. We propose that leading and lagging strand synthesis at a T7 replication fork are coupled and that the replication proteins are recycled.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Association of replicating bacteriophage T7 DNA with bacterial membranes.

Infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T7 leads to the formation of an association between host membranes and newly synthesized T7 DNA. Evidence for this conclusion is suggested by the findings that replicating T7 DNA cosediments with host membranes in sucrose and cesium chloride density gradients. Furthermore, the sedimentation rate of T7 DNA is dependent on the integrity of membrane structure. Finally, an association between DNA and membranes can be demonstrated by electron microscope studies.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Initiation of DNA replication at the primary origin of bacteriophage T7 by purified proteins. Site and direction of initial DNA synthesis.

In vivo, T7 DNA replication is initiated 15% of the distance from the genetic left end of the chromosome. This site, the primary origin of replication, consists of a 200-base pair (bp) intergenic segment from 14.5 to 15.0% within which are located two tandem T7 RNA polymerase promoters (phi 1.1A and phi 1.1B) followed by a 61-bp AT-rich (79% A + T) region. A fragment of T7 DNA containing the primary origin has been inserted into plasmids in order to facilitate studies on initiation in vitro. Initiation of DNA synthesis can be reconstituted using T7 RNA polymerase, T7 DNA polymerase, and T7 origin-containing plasmid DNAs. DNA synthesis is stimulated greatly by the T7 gene 4 protein, an enzyme that has helicase and primase activities. When T7 gene 4 protein is present, replication primarily yields partially replicated Y-form molecules as observed by electron microscopy. Synthesis is unidirectional and the branches of the Y-form molecules are uniform in size, with the branch point of the Y located at the origin. Using restriction enzyme analysis, DNA synthesis has been shown to proceed in the same direction (rightward with respect to the T7 genetic map) as transcription from the two promoters located at the origin. Initiation of DNA synthesis in the opposite direction requires the addition of a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (Fuller, C.W., and Richardson, C.C. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 3197-3206). The initial products of DNA synthesis have been analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These DNAs have 10 to 60 ribonucleotides covalently linked to their 5' termini. These RNA primers arise by transcription from each of the two promoters, phi 1.1A and phi 1.1B, located within the primary origin.

Base Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of prototrophic mutants of Escherichia coli unable to support the intracellular growth of T7.

Mutants of E. coli B/1 were isolated which grew normally but did not permit the intracellular growth of bacteriophage T7. Two classes of mutants were studied in detail (tsnB(-) and tsnC(-)). These strains adsorbed T7 normally and were killed by the infection. Synthesis of T7 RNA and of early and late classes of T7 proteins occurred normally after infection. In T7-infected tsnB(-) cells, T7 DNA synthesis stopped prematurely shortly after its onset, suggesting that the tsnB function affects a step in the late phase of T7 DNA replication. Mutants of T7 were isolated (T7beta) which could grow on tsnB(-) cells. In T7-infected tsnC(-) cells, T7 DNA synthesis was completely blocked, suggesting that the tsnC function affects a step in an early phase of T7 DNA replication.

Coliphages↗

Initiation of DNA replication at the primary origin of bacteriophage T7 by purified proteins: requirement for T7 RNA polymerase.

The primary origin of bacteriophage T7 DNA replication is located 15% of the distance from the left end of the T7 DNA molecule. This intergenic segment is A + T-rich, contains a single gene 4 protein recognition site, and is preceded by two tandem promoters for T7 RNA polymerase [RNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.6]. Analysis by electron microscopy shows that T7 DNA polymerase [DNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.7] and gene 4 protein initiate DNA synthesis at randomly located nicks on duplex DNA to produce branched molecules. However, upon the addition of T7 RNA polymerase and ribonucleoside triphosphates 14% of the product molecules have replication bubbles, all of which are located near the primary origin observed in vivo; no such initiation occurs on T7 deletion mutant LG37 DNA, which lacks the primary origin. We have also studied initiation by using plasmids into which fragments of T7 DNA have been inserted. DNA synthesis on these templates is also dependent on the presence of T7 RNA polymerase and ribonucleoside triphosphates. DNA synthesis is specific for plasmids containing the primary origin, provided they are first converted to linear forms.

Base Sequence↗

The complex of DNA gyrase and quinolone drugs on DNA forms a barrier to the T7 DNA polymerase replication complex.

Quinolone drugs can inhibit bacterial DNA replication, via interaction with the type II topoisomerase DNA gyrase. Using a DNA template containing a preferred site for quinolone-induced gyrase cleavage, we have demonstrated that the passage of the bacteriophage T7 replication complex is blocked in vitro by the formation of a gyrase-drug-DNA complex. The majority of the polymerase is arrested approximately 10 bp upstream of this preferred site, although other minor sites of blocking have been observed. The ability of mutant gyrase proteins to arrest DNA replication in vitro has been investigated. Gyrase containing mutations in the A subunit at either the active-site tyrosine (Tyr122) or Ser83 (a residue known to be involved in quinolone interaction) failed to halt the progress of the polymerase. A low-level, quinolone-resistant mutation in the B subunit of gyrase showed reduced blocking compared to wild-type. We have demonstrated that DNA cleavage and replication blocking occur on similar time-scales and we conclude that formation of the cleavable complex is a prerequisite for polymerase blocking. Additionally, we have shown that collision of the replication proteins with the gyrase-drug-DNA complex is not sufficient to render this complex irreversible and that further factors must be involved in processing this stalled complex.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Genetic analysis of gene 1.2 of bacteriophage T7: isolation of a mutant of Escherichia coli unable to support the growth of T7 gene 1.2 mutants.

The product of gene 1.2 of bacteriophage T7 is not required for the growth of T7 in wild-type Escherichia coli since deletion mutants lacking the entire gene 1.2 grow normally (Studier et al., J. Mol. Biol. 135:917-937, 1979). By using a T7 strain lacking gene 1.2, we have isolated a mutant of E. coli that was unable to support the growth of both point and deletion mutants defective in gene 1.2. The mutation, optA1, was located at approximately 3.6 min on the E. coli linkage map in the interval between dapD and tonA; optA1 was 92% cotransducible with dapD. By using the optA1 mutant, we have isolated six gene 1.2 point mutants of T7, all of which mapped between positions 15 and 16 on the T7 genetic map. These mutations have also been characterized by DNA sequence analysis, E. coli optA1 cells infected with T7 gene 1.2 mutants were defective in T7 DNA replication; early RNA and protein synthesis proceeded normally. The defect in T7 DNA replication is manifested by a premature cessation of DNA synthesis and degradation of the newly synthesized DNA. The defect was not observed in E. coli opt+ cells infected with T7 gene 1.2 mutants or in E. coli optA1 cells infected with wild-type T7 phage.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Recombinant plasmids carrying promoters, genes and the origin of DNA replication of the early region of bacteriophage T7.

Two full-length contiguous HpaI fragments of the 0 to 18.2% region of T7 H DNA (HpF-H and HpG) were inserted into plasmids pHV14 or pC194 using oligo(dG . dC) connectors or synthetic HindIII adaptors. Amplification of the two early T7 fragments was achieved by transforming lysostaphin-treated S. aureus W57 with the hybrid plasmids. Experimental evidence is presented suggesting that neither of these T7 segments can be cloned in an intact form in E. coli. One of the hybrids, pHV14-HpF-H, proved to be unstable even in B. subtilis 168. The supercoiled recombinant plasmids were tested for their capacity to support RNA synthesis by purified E. coli or T7 RNA polymerases and to serve as templates in a cell-free T7 DNA replication system. The results of these in vitro studies indicate the presence of active "early" promoters in the cloned fragment HpF-H and active "late" promoters, as well as a functional origin of replication in the cloned fragment HpG.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Thioredoxin and related proteins in procaryotes.

Thioredoxin is a small (Mr 12,000) ubiquitous redox protein with the conserved active site structure: -Trp-Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-. The oxidized form (Trx-S2) contains a disulfide bridge which is reduced by NADPH and thioredoxin reductase; the reduced form [Trx(SH)2] is a powerful protein disulfide oxidoreductase. Thioredoxins have been characterized in a wide variety of prokaryotic cells, and generally show about 50% amino acid homology to Escherichia coli thioredoxin with a known three-dimensional structure. In vitro Trx-(SH)2 serves as a hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase, an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis, and for enzymes reducing sulfate or methionine sulfoxide. E. coli Trx-(SH)2 is essential for phage T7 DNA replication as a subunit of T7 DNA polymerase and also for assembly of the filamentous phages f1 and M13 perhaps through its localization at the cellular plasma membrane. Some photosynthetic organisms reduce Trx-S2 by light and ferredoxin; Trx-(SH)2 is used as a disulfide reductase to regulate the activity of enzymes by thiol redox control. Thioredoxin-negative mutants (trxA) of E. coli are viable making the precise cellular physiological functions of thioredoxin unknown. Another small E. coli protein, glutaredoxin, enables GSH to be hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase or PAPS reductase. Further experiments with molecular genetic techniques are required to define the relative roles of the thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems in intracellular redox reactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts on a reconstituted replication system.

We have used a partially reconstituted replication system consisting of T7 DNA polymerase and T7 gene 4 protein to examine the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) adducts on DNA synthesis and gene 4 protein activities. The gene 4 protein is required for T7 DNA replication because of its ability to act as both a primase and helicase. We show here that total synthesis decreases as the level of adducts per molecule of DNA increases, suggesting that the B[a]P adducts are blocking an aspect of the replication process. Polyacrylamide gels indicate that a shorter DNA product is produced on modified templates and this is confirmed by determining the average chain lengths from the ratio of chain initiations to chain elongation. Gene 4 protein primed synthesis reactions display a greater sensitivity to the presence of B[a]P adducts than do oligonucleotide-primed reactions. By challenging synthesis on oligonucleotide-primed B[a]P-modified DNA with unmodified DNA, we present evidence that the T7 DNA polymerase freely dissociates after encountering an adduct. Prior studies [Brown, W. C., & Romano, L. J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6748-6754] have shown that the gene 4 protein alone does not dissociate from the template during translocation upon encountering an adduct. However, when gene 4 protein primed DNA synthesis is challenged, we observe an increase in synthesis but to lesser extent than observed on oligonucleotide-primed synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

Rescue of abortive T7 gene 2 mutant phage infection by rifampin.

Infection of Escherichia coli with T7 gene 2 mutant phage was abortive; concatemeric phage DNA was synthesized but was not packaged into the phage head, resulting in an accumulation of DNA species shorter in size than the phage genome, concomitant with an accumulation of phage head-related structures. Appearance of concatemeric T7 DNA in gene 2 mutant phage infection during onset of T7 DNA replication indicates that the product of gene 2 was required for proper processing or packaging of concatemer DNA rather than for the synthesis of T7 progeny DNA or concatemer formation. This abortive infection by gene 2 mutant phage could be rescued by rifampin. If rifampin was added at the onset of T7 DNA replication, concatemeric DNA molecules were properly packaged into phage heads, as evidenced by the production of infectious progeny phage. Since the gene 2 product acts as a specific inhibitor of E. coli RNA polymerase by preventing the enzyme from binding T7 DNA, uninhibited E. coli RNA polymerase in gene 2 mutant phage-infected cells interacts with concatemeric T7 DNA and perturbs proper DNA processing unless another inhibitor of the enzyme (rifampin) was added. Therefore, the involvement of gene 2 protein in T7 DNA processing may be due to its single function as the specific inhibitor of the host E. coli RNA polymerase.

DNA Replication↗