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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Chi sites in combination with RecA protein increase the survival of linear DNA in Escherichia coli by inactivating exoV activity of RecBCD nuclease.

In Escherichia coli, unprotected linear DNA is degraded by exoV activity of the RecBCD nuclease, a protein that plays a central role in the repair of double-strand breaks. Specific short asymmetric sequences, called chi sites, are hotspots for RecBCD-promoted recombination and are shown in vitro to attenuate exoV activity. To study RecBCD-chi site interactions in vivo we used phage lambda's terminase to introduce a site-specific double-strand break at lambda's cos site inserted into a plasmid. We show that after terminase has cut cos in vivo, nucleases degrade linearized DNA only from the end that does not have a strong terminase binding site. Linearized cosmid DNA containing chi sites in the proper orientation to the unprotected end is degraded more slowly in rec+ E. coli than is chi-less DNA. Increased survival of chi-containing DNA is a result of partial inactivation of exoV activity and is dependent on RecA and SSB proteins. The linearization of chi-containing DNA molecules leads to RecA-dependent formation of branched structures which have been proposed as intermediates in the RecBCD pathway of double-strand break repair.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Physical map of biologically active Harvey sarcoma virus unintegrated linear DNA.

BALB/c JLS V9 cells recently infected with Harvey sarcoma virus-murine leukemia virus (HSV-MuLV) complex contained unintegrated HSV linear DNA of 6.0-kilobase pair mass. The cells also contained two HSV closed circular DNA species along with MuLV-encoded linear and closed circular DNA species. HSV 6.0-kilobase pair linear DNA induced focal transformation upon transfection of NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, and the biological activity of HSV DNA did not require helper MuLV functions. A physical map of restriction endonuclease cleavage sites along HSV 6.0-kilobase pair linear DNA was derived. Comparison of this map with one for Moloney MuLV DNA showed that the HSV and Moloney MuLV genomes are identical near their viral RNA 3' ends.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Structural and dynamic differences between supercoiled and linear DNA from proton NMR.

Proton NMR experiments on an intact plasmid supercoiled DNA molecule are reported. Spectra of the hydrogen-bonded exchangeable imino protons and nonexchangeable aromatic protons of pIns36 (7,200 base pairs; Mr 5 x 10(6)) were examined at 240 and 360 MHz. In contrast to linear DNA of comparable size in which the signals from these protons are broadened almost beyond detection, the supercoiled DNA exhibits a remarkably well-resolved spectrum in the range 12-15 ppm, with linewidths characteristic of linear DNA molecules with molecular weight nearly two orders of magnitude smaller. These results imply an extraordinary degree of mobility in accord with our earlier discovery of unusually long 31P spin-spin relaxation times in the supercoiled molecule. Alterations in the chemical shift of the imino proton resonance positions in supercoiled DNA compared to linear DNA imply that the structure is modified in the A . T base pairs with at least two distinct structures apparent from the spectrum. However, little or no alteration is evident in the resonances due to the G . C base pairs.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Linker histone interaction shows divalent character with both supercoiled and linear DNA.

The interaction of linker histone H1 with both linear and superhelical double-stranded DNA has been investigated at low ionic strengths. Gel mobility retardation experiments demonstrate strikingly different behavior for the two forms of DNA. First, the experiments strongly suggest that linker histone binds to superhelical DNA in a negatively cooperative mode. In contrast, binding of linker histone to linear DNA under the conditions employed here shows no cooperativity. Second, binding of linker histone to linear DNA results in aggregation of histone-DNA complexes, even at very low levels of input histone H1. Because H1 has been shown to interact as a monomer, this aggregation is evidence of the divalent character of the linker histone, for without H1's ability to bind to two duplex strands of DNA, aggregation could not occur. Although aggregation can be made to occur with superhelical DNA, it can do so only at near-saturation levels of input histone H1. Finally, in direct competition, linker histone binds to superhelical DNA to the complete exclusion of linear DNA, indicating that the linker histone's function is related to the crossover structures that differentiate superhelical DNA from linear DNA. We develop a model that explains the observed behavior of binding of linker histone to superhelical DNA that is consistent with both the divalent character of the linker histone and the negative cooperativity by which linker histone and superhelical DNA interact.

DNA↗
PubMed1989

Degradation of linear DNA by a strand-specific exonuclease activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Linear DNA injected into Xenopus laevis oocyte nuclei recombines with high efficiency if homologous sequences are present at overlapping molecular ends. We found that injected linear DNA was degraded by a 5'----3' strand-specific exonuclease activity during incubation in the oocyte nucleus to leave a heterogeneous population of 3'-tailed molecules. Decreasing the concentration of DNA injected increased the heterogeneity and the average rate of degradation. The 3' tails created were relatively stable; among molecules persisting after overnight incubation, many had 3' tails intact to within 10 bases of the original ends. DNA molecules that were efficient substrates for homologous recombination in oocytes were also partially degraded, leaving 3' tails. We found no evidence for other potent nuclease activities. If molecules with recessed 3'-OH ends were injected, endogenous polymerase efficiently resynthesized complementary strands before degradation of the 5' tails occurred. 3'-tailed molecules are plausible intermediates in the initiation of homologous recombination events in Xenopus oocyte nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Isolation and characterization of a linear DNA plasmid from Streptomyces clavuligerus.

A linear DNA plasmid (pSCL) has been isolated from Streptomyces clavuligerus by a method employing high concentrations of protease. Rate-zonal sedimentation on sucrose gradients was used to purify the plasmid. The plasmid is 12 kb in length and appears to be linked to protein at its 5' termini. A restriction endonuclease map of the plasmid for ten enzymes has been determined. Evidence for terminally repeated sequences is provided by cross-hybridization analysis.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1984

Cloning and nucleotide sequences of the linear DNA killer plasmids from yeast.

The linear DNA killer plasmids (pGKL1 and pGKL2) isolated from a Kluyveromyces lactis killer strain are also maintained and expressed its killer character in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After these killer plasmid DNAs isolated from S. cerevisiae were treated with alkali, four terminal fragments from each plasmid DNAs were cloned separately. Using these and other cloned DNA fragments, the terminal nucleotide sequences of pGKL2 and the complete nucleotide sequence of pGKL1 were determined. The inverted terminal repetitions of 202 bp and 182 bp were found in pGKL1 and pGKL2, respectively. The pGKL1 sequence showed an extremely high A + T content of 73.2% and it contained five large open reading frames. The largest of these open reading frame was suggested to code for a membrane-bound precursor of glycoprotein subunit of the killer toxin.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Chromosomal lesion suppression and removal in Escherichia coli via linear DNA degradation.

RecBCD is a DNA helicase/exonuclease implicated in degradation of foreign linear DNA and in RecA-dependent recombinational repair of chromosomal lesions in E. coli. The low viability of recA recBC mutants vs. recA mutants indicates the existence of RecA-independent roles for RecBCD. To distinguish among possible RecA-independent roles of the RecBCD enzyme in replication, repair, and DNA degradation, we introduced wild-type and mutant combinations of the recBCD chromosomal region on a low-copy-number plasmid into a DeltarecA DeltarecBCD mutant and determined the viability of resulting strains. Our results argue against ideas that RecBCD is a structural element in the replication factory or is involved in RecA-independent repair of chromosomal lesions. We found that RecBCD-catalyzed DNA degradation is the only activity important for the recA-independent viability, suggesting that degradation of linear tails of sigma-replicating chromosomes could be one of the RecBCD's roles. However, since the weaker DNA degradation capacity due a combination of the RecBC helicase and ssDNA-specific exonucleases restores viability of the DeltarecA DeltarecBCD mutant to a significant extent, we favor suppression of chromosomal lesions via linear DNA degradation at reversed replication forks as the major RecA-independent role of the RecBCD enzyme.

DNA↗
PubMed1999

Evolution of the linear DNA replicons of the Borrelia spirochetes.

Members of the spirochete genus Borrelia carry numerous linear DNA replicons with covalently closed hairpin telomeres. The genome of one member of this genus, B. burgdorferi B31, has now been completely characterized and contains a linear chromosome, twelve linear plasmids and nine circular extra-chromosomal elements. The phylogenetic position of the Borrelia spirochetes strongly suggests that a progenitor with circular replicons acquired the ability to replicate linear DNA molecules.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1984

DNA binding protein from ovaries of the frog, Xenopus laevis which promotes concatenation of linear DNA.

A soluble extract of Xenopus laevis ovaries catalyzed ATP-dependent concatenation of linear duplex DNA molecules. DNA ligase and a unique X. laevis DNA binding protein were required for the formation of concatemers. A linear DNA concatenation system was reconstituted using T4 DNA ligase and homogeneous X. laevis DNA binding protein. This system catalyzed intermolecular ligation of DNA molecules into linear concatemers of up to ten or more times monomer length.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

A novel replicative form DNA of Aleutian disease virus: the covalently closed linear DNA of the parvoviruses.

The analysis of replicative form (RF) DNA of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) by alkaline gel electrophoresis revealed that all RF DNA species segregate into DNA single strands which represent integral multiples of a genome equivalent. This demonstrates that as with other autonomous parvoviruses, the virion and complementary DNA strands are frequently linked by hairpin structures and that also, nicks are present at subterminal sites. Approximately 50% of the 5'-terminal hairpins contain a subterminal nick whereas no nick is detectable in the 3'-terminal hairpin. This finding together with the presence of nicks in the 3' palindrome sequence of the dimer RF DNA (D RF DNA) bridge fragment is the first experimental proof for the so far hypothetical substrate specificity of a nickase. A novel DNA structure was identified in the monomer (M) RF DNA population. This molecule, designated 'monomer covalently closed linear RF DNA' (Mccl RF DNA), consists of a continuous, self-complementary, circular polynucleotide chain of twice the genome length. It was directly visualized by electron microscopy that denatured ADV M RF DNA is a single-stranded circular molecule of twice the genome length with covalently closed terminal hairpins on either end. Alkaline gradient centrifugations, enzymic assays and electrophoretic techniques confirmed the proposed structure. Moreover, evidence was obtained that the D RF DNA species contains an analogous Dccl RF DNA. It is suggested that the newly described Mccl RF DNA form is an important intermediate common to the DNA replication of all autonomously replicating parvoviruses.

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus↗
PubMed2003

Helper-independent and AAV-ITR-independent chromosomal integration of double-stranded linear DNA vectors in mice.

Nonviral plasmid DNA is a promising vector for achieving ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer. However, transgene expression is usually transient, especially in dividing target cells due to loss of vector genomes. Here we describe the use of naked double-stranded (ds) linear DNA as a way to insert exogenous DNA sequences into chromosomes of mouse hepatocytes in vivo, without helper components such as integrase or transposase. We constructed ds linear DNA vectors with or without adeno-associated virus inverted terminal repeats (AAV-ITRs), introduced them into mouse hepatocytes in vivo using a hydrodynamics-based transfection technique, and analyzed for vector genome integration in various ways. Surprisingly, these linear DNA molecules integrated in mouse hepatocytes in vivo at a level of 0.3-0.5 vector genome, or more, per diploid genomic equivalent irrespective of the AAV-ITR sequences. Our results establish a novel and simple way to engineer chromosomes in vivo and provide further insights into the mechanisms of recombinant AAV vector integration in vivo. In addition, they may provide a clue for developing new nonviral integrating gene delivery vector systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Gene replacement with linear DNA fragments in wild-type Escherichia coli: enhancement by Chi sites.

During conjugation and transduction of Escherichia coli even numbers of recombinational exchanges are required for replacement of a gene on the circular chromosome. We studied gene replacement using a related method of gene transfer (transformation with 6.5-kb linear DNA fragments) as an experimental model for conjugation and transduction. Two properly situated Chi sites, 5' GCTGGTGG 3', stimulated gene replacement approximately 50-fold, more than the sum of the stimulation by the individual Chi sites. Gene replacement was dependent on RecA and RecB functions. Similar results were obtained with an alternative experimental model in which linear DNA fragments were generated from phage lambda by intracellular EcoRI restriction following infection. Dual Chi site-stimulation of these RecA-, RecB-dependent recombination events thus did not depend upon the mode of delivery of the linear DNA into the cells. A single DNA fragment with two Chi sites was sufficient for gene replacement. These results support a one Chi-one exchange hypothesis ("long chunk" gene replacement), stemming from studies with purified RecBCD enzyme, and argue against models in which Chi converts RecBCD enzyme to a state capable of promoting multiple exchanges on one DNA molecule. These results also provide a method for gene targeting in wild-type E. coli and suggest a method for gene targeting in other organisms.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1993

A 5'-3' exonuclease from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for in vitro recombination between linear DNA molecules with overlapping homology.

When two linear DNA molecules with overlapping, homologous ends were incubated with a yeast nuclear extract, they recombined at the region of homology to produce a joint molecule. We have identified a 5'-3' exonuclease in the extract that is likely to be responsible for the formation of the observed product. We propose that the exonuclease degrades each substrate to reveal regions of complementary sequence which anneal to form a recombinant product. Consistent with this model, we have partially purified the activity that promotes joint molecule formation and found it to cofractionate with a 5'-3' exonuclease activity through three consecutive chromatography steps. We have further characterized the reaction to determine the optimal length of homology. Substrates with homologous terminal overlaps of 29 to 958 bp were capable of product formation, whereas substrates with longer overlaps were not. Extracts prepared from a number of recombination-defective or nuclease-deficient strains revealed no defect in exonuclease activity, indicating that the reaction is likely to be dependent upon the product of an as yet unidentified gene.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of duplex ends in the spontaneous interaction of homologous linear DNA fragments].

The spontaneous interaction of homologous linear DNA fragments was studied with a model of purified PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis. To interact, duplexes required not only homology of internal regions, but also complementary ends. Fragments differing in terminal sequences did not interact. The yield of Holliday junctions (HJ), the simplest product of DNA-DNA interaction, depended on dissociation of fragment ends. Compared with genomic fragments, those with low-melting AT ends interacted with each other more efficiently and those with high-melting GC ends, less efficiently. Incubation temperature affected the equilibrium HJ concentration in solution of homologous fragments. A conclusion was made that HJ formation is initiated by nucleation of dissociated duplex ends.

DNA↗
PubMed1981

[Intermolecular interactions between fluorescent probes bound to linear DNA].

Intermolecular interactions of fluorescent probes bound to linear DNA. Several fluorescent probes can be widely used in determining the base content, the geometry and the possible conformational transitions of linear and circular DNAs in solution. Data are presented showing that Tb3+ and DAPI bind independently to DNA and can therefore be used to monitor the G+C and A+T content of the nucleic acid respectively.

Amidines↗
PubMed1991

Overamplification of macronuclear linear DNA molecules during prolonged vegetative growth of Oxytricha nova.

During prolonged vegetative growth of a clonal line of Oxytricha nova, several macronuclear linear DNA molecules increased greatly in copy number over the rest of the approx. 24,000 kinds of molecules comprising the macronuclear genome. One of the amplified sequences was the linear DNA molecule encoding rRNA (rDNA). We have cloned and sequenced the other, smaller, amplified molecules and found that they comprise a gene family, with different allelic versions of one of the family members being amplified. Thus, increased replication is a general property of the molecules comprising this gene family. To date, no function has been assigned to these genes; thus, whether the amplification of these sequences has functional significance is unknown. The rDNA molecule and the two small amplified sequences increased 11-, 24- and 107-fold, respectively, during clonal growth of this line, eventually comprising up to 15% of the macronuclear DNA molecules. Seven other macronuclear DNA molecules did not vary substantially in copy number at different times during the clonal growth of this strain. Analysis of cell-to-cell differences in copy numbers in this clonally aged strain indicated more extensive variation than is evident when large populations from different times are compared.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Circular and linear DNA molecules in the Entamoeba histolytica complex molecular karyotype.

Entamoeba histolytica genome was analysed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis under conditions to separate linear chromosomes in the 170-1400 kb range. We identified linear DNA molecules of 227, 366, 631, 850, 1112 and 1361 kb (mean sizes obtained by three different methods) and we estimated their reorientation times and migration velocities at various experimental conditions. DNA shift mobility assays, using ethidium bromide, suggested that bands migrating at 227 and 631 kb contain linear and circular DNA, whereas a band at 436 kb has only circular DNA. We obtained a regression equation relating sizes of supercoiled DNA molecules with their migration velocities during a pulse at constant electric field and temperature. We also developed a computer program (EHPATTERNS) that predicts the migration per pulse and the resolution order of circular and linear E. histolytica DNA at different pulse times and constant driving and frictional forces. The simulation showed that linear DNA molecules frequently co-migrate with circular molecules, but circular molecules change when the pulse time varies. This molecular mixture generates broad bands and difficulties in the interpretation of the molecular karyotype of E. histolytica.

Animals↗