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cis elements that contribute to geminivirus transcriptional regulation and the efficiency of DNA replication.

The A genomic component of the geminivirus tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) contains a 5' intergenic sequence that includes the overlapping AL61 promoter and positive-strand origin of DNA replication. The TGMV AL1 protein negatively regulates its own transcription and mediates origin recognition by binding to a repeated motif shared by the AL61 promoter and the viral origin. We examined a series of truncated or mutated 5' intergenic regions in transient expression and replication assay to identify other DNA sequences that contribute to TGMV promoter and origin function. These experiments revealed that negative regulation of the AL61 promoter is complex, involving multiple cis-acting sequences and the AL1 and AL4 proteins, which acted through different DNA elements. We also found that mutation of the TATA box motif in the AL61 promoter reduced overall transcriptional activity and AL1-mediated repression, confirming the importance of this sequence in promoter function. Mutation of a G-box consensus sequence was highly detrimental to AL61 transcription and abolished AL1 sensitivity, suggesting that AL1 interferes with transcriptional activation. Cotransfection experiments showed that the TATA box and G-box motif mutations also impaired viral DNA replication in the presence of a wild-type origin but had no effect in its absence, demonstrating that these transcriptional motifs also function as replication efficiency elements.

Base Sequence↗

Occurrence of reiterated sequences in an untranslated region of Simian virus 40 DNA determined by nucleotide sequence analysis.

An earlier report (Subramanian, Dhar, and Weissman, 1977c) presented the nucleotide sequence of Eco RII-G fragment of SV40 DNA, which contains the origin of DNA replication. The nucleotide sequence of Eco RII-N fragment located next to Eco RII-G on the physical map of SV40 DNA is presented in this report. Eco RII-N is found to be a tandem duplication of the last 55 nucleotides of Eco RII-G. This tandem repeat is immediately preceded by two other reiterated sequences occurring within Eco RII-G, one of them being a tandem repeat of 21 nucleotides and the other a nontandem repeat of 10 nucleotides. These repetitive sequences occur in close proximity to the origin of DNA replication which is known to contain other specialized sequences such as a few palindromes (one of which is 27 long and possesses a perfect 2-fold axis of symmetry), one "true" palindrome, and a long A/T-rich cluster. The repeats (and the replication origin) occur within an untranslated region of SV40 DNA flanked by (the few) structural genes coding for the "late" proteins on the one side and that (those) coding for the "early" protein(s) on the other side. The reiterated sequences are comparable in some respects to repetitive sequences occurring in eucaryotic DNAs. Possible biological functions of the repeats are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Decreased origin usage and initiation of DNA replication in haploinsufficient HCT116 Ku80+/- cells.

One of the functions of the abundant heterodimeric nuclear protein, Ku (Ku70/Ku80), is its involvement in the initiation of DNA replication through its ability to bind to chromosomal replication origins in a sequence-specific and cell cycle dependent manner. Here, using HCT116 Ku80+/- cells, the effect of Ku80 deficiency on cell cycle progression and origin activation was examined. Western blot analyses revealed a 75% and 36% decrease in the nuclear expression of Ku80 and Ku70, respectively. This was concomitant with a 33% and 40% decrease in chromatin binding of both proteins, respectively. Cell cycle analysis of asynchronous and late G1 synchronized Ku80+/- cells revealed a prolonged G1 phase. Furthermore, these Ku-deficient cells had a 4.5-, 3.4- and 4.3-fold decrease in nascent strand DNA abundance at the lamin B2, beta-globin and c-myc replication origins, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that the association of Ku80 with the lamin B2, beta-globin and c-myc origins was decreased by 1.5-, 2.3- and 2.5-fold, respectively, whereas that of Ku70 was similarly decreased (by 2.1-, 1.5- and 1.7-fold, respectively) in Ku80+/- cells. The results indicate that a deficiency of Ku80 resulted in a prolonged G1 phase, as well as decreased Ku binding to and activation of origins of DNA replication.

Animals↗

The DNA unwinding element: a novel, cis-acting component that facilitates opening of the Escherichia coli replication origin.

We have discovered that DNA supercoiling, in the absence of replication proteins, induces localized unwinding in the Escherichia coli replication origin (oriC) at the same sequence opened by the dnaA initiator protein. The DNA helix at the tandemly repeated, 13mer sequence is thermodynamically unstable, as evidenced by hypersensitivity to single-strand-specific nuclease in a negatively supercoiled plasmid, and demonstrated by stable DNA unwinding seen after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of topoisomers. A replication-defective oriC mutant lacking the leftmost 13mer shows no nuclease hypersensitivity in two remaining 13mers and no detectable DNA unwinding on two-dimensional gels. The replication defect in the oriC mutant can be corrected by inserting a dissimilar DNA sequence with reduced helical stability in place of the leftmost 13mer. Thus, the helical instability of the leftmost 13mer, not the specific 13mer sequence, is essential for origin function. The rightmost 13mer exhibits helical instability but differs from the leftmost 13mer in its strict sequence conservation among related bacterial origins. The repeated 13mer region appears to serve two overlapping functions: protein recognition and helical instability. We propose that the cis-acting sequence whose helical instability is required for origin function be called the DNA unwinding element (DUE).

Base Sequence↗

Bacteriophage T7 DNA packaging. I. Plasmids containing a T7 replication origin and the T7 concatemer junction are packaged into transducing particles during phage infection.

Bacteriophage T7 DNA is a linear duplex molecule with a 160 base-pair direct repeat (terminal redundancy) at its ends. During replication, large DNA concatemers are formed, which are multimers of the T7 genome linked head to tail through recombination at the terminal redundancy. We define the sequence that results from this recombination, a mature right end joined to the left end of T7 DNA, as the concatemer junction. To study the processing and packaging of T7 concatemers into phage particles, we have cloned the T7 concatemer junction into a plasmid vector. This plasmid is efficiently (at least 15 particles/infected cell) packaged into transducing particles during a T7 infection. These transducing particles can be separated from T7 phage by sedimentation to equilibrium in CsCl. The packaged plasmid DNA is a linear concatemer of about 40 x 10(3) base-pairs with ends at the expected T7 DNA sequences. Thus, the T7 concatemer junction sequence on the plasmid is recognized for processing and packaging by the phage system. We have identified a T7 DNA replication origin near the right end of the T7 genome that is necessary for efficient plasmid packaging. The origin, which is associated with a T7 RNA polymerase promoter, causes amplification of the plasmid DNA during T7 infection. The amplified plasmid DNA sediments very rapidly and contains large concatemers, which are expected to be good substrates for the packaging reaction. When cloned in pBR322, a sequence containing only the mature right end of T7 DNA is sufficient for efficient packaging. Since this sequence does not contain DNA to the right of the site where a mature T7 right end is formed, it was expected that right ends would not form on this DNA. In fact, with this plasmid the right end does not form at the normal T7 sequence but is instead formed within the vector. Apparently, the T7 packaging system can also recognize a site in pBR322 DNA to produce an end for packaging. This site is not recognized solely by a "headful" mechanism, since there can be considerable variation in the amount of DNA packaged (32 x 10(3) to 42 x 10(3) base-pairs). Furthermore, deletion of this region from the vector DNA prevents packaging of the plasmid. The end that is formed in vector DNA is somewhat heterogeneous. About one-third of the ends are at a unique site (nucleotide 1712 of pBR322), which is followed by the sequence 5'-ATCTGT-3'. This sequence is also found adjacent to the cut made in a T7 DNA concatemer to produce a normal T7 right end.

Base Sequence↗

Initiation of DNA replication requires the RECQL4 protein mutated in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.

How the replication machinery is loaded at origins of DNA replication is poorly understood. Here, we implicate in this process the Xenopus laevis homolog (xRTS) of the RECQL4 helicase mutated in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. xRTS, which bears homology to the yeast replication factors Sld2/DRC1, is essential for DNA replication in egg extracts. xRTS can be replaced in extracts by its human homolog, while RECQL4 depletion from mammalian cells induces proliferation failure, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved function. xRTS accumulates on chromatin during replication initiation, after prereplication-complex (pre-RC) proteins, Cut5, Sld5, or Cdc45 but before replicative polymerases. xRTS depletion suppresses the loading of RPA, the ssDNA binding protein that marks unwound origins before polymerase recruitment. However, xRTS is unaffected by xRPA depletion. Thus, xRTS functions after pre-RC formation to promote loading of replication factors at origins, a previously unrecognized activity necessary for initiation. This role connects defective replication initiation to a chromosome-fragility disorder.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Interaction of SeqA and Dam methylase on the hemimethylated origin of Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA replication.

Preferential binding of SeqA protein to hemimethylated oriC, the origin of Escherichia coli chromosomal replication, delays methylation by Dam methylase. Because the SeqA-oriC interaction appears to be essential in timing of chromosomal replication initiation, the biochemical functions of SeqA protein and Dam methylase at the 13-mer L, M, and R region containing 4 GATC sequences at the left end of oriC were examined. We found that SeqA protein preferentially bound hemimethylated 13-mers but not fully nor unmethylated 13-mers. Regardless of strand methylation, the binding of SeqA protein to the hemimethylated GATC sequence of 13-mer L was followed by additional binding to other hemimethylated GATC sequences of 13-mer M and R. On the other hand, Dam methylase did not discriminate binding of 13-mers in different methylation patterns and was not specific to GATC sequences. The binding specificity and higher affinity of SeqA protein over Dam methylase to the hemimethylated 13-mers along with the reported cellular abundance of this protein explains the dominant action of SeqA protein over Dam methylase to the newly replicated oriC for the sequestration of chromosomal replication. Furthermore, SeqA protein bound to hemimethylated 13-mers was not dissociated by Dam methylase, and most SeqA protein spontaneously dissociated 10 min after binding. Also, SeqA protein delayed the in vitro methylation of hemimethylated 13-mers by Dam methylase. These in vitro results suggest that the intrinsic binding instability of SeqA protein results in release of sequestrated hemimethylated oriC.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Processes at the nick region link conjugation, T-DNA transfer and rolling circle replication.

Data from prokaryotic replicative and conjugative systems, which interrelate DNA processing events initiated by a site-specific nick, are reviewed. While the replicative systems have been established in accordance with the rolling circle replication model, the mechanism of conjugative replication has not been elucidated experimentally. We summarize data involving random point mutagenesis of the RK2 transfer origin (oriT), which yielded relaxation-deficient and transfer-deficient derivatives having mutations exclusively in a 10bp region defined as the nick region. Features of the RK2 (IncP) nick region, including the DNA sequence, nick site position, and 5' covalent attachment of the nicking protein, have striking parallels in other systems involving nicking and mobilization of single-stranded DNA from a supercoiled substrate. These other systems include T-DNA transfer occurring in Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid-mediated tumorigenesis in plants, and the rolling circle replication of plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria and of phi X174-like bacteriophage. The structural and functional similarities suggest that IncP conjugative replication, originating at the oriT, and T-DNA transfer replication, originating at the T-DNA border, produce continuous strands via a rolling circle-type replication.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

Drosophila heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1)/origin recognition complex (ORC) protein is associated with HP1 and ORC and functions in heterochromatin-induced silencing.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is a conserved component of the highly compact chromatin of higher eukaryotic centromeres and telomeres. Cytogenetic experiments in Drosophila have shown that HP1 localization into this chromatin is perturbed in mutants for the origin recognition complex (ORC) 2 subunit. ORC has a multisubunit DNA-binding activity that binds origins of DNA replication where it is required for origin firing. The DNA-binding activity of ORC is also used in the recruitment of the Sir1 protein to silence nucleation sites flanking silent copies of the mating-type genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A fraction of HP1 in the maternally loaded cytoplasm of the early Drosophila embryo is associated with a multiprotein complex containing Drosophila melanogaster ORC subunits. This complex appears to be poised to function in heterochromatin assembly later in embryonic development. Here we report the identification of a novel component of this complex, the HP1/ORC-associated protein. This protein contains similarity to DNA sequence-specific HMG proteins and is shown to bind specific satellite sequences and the telomere-associated sequence in vitro. The protein is shown to have heterochromatic localization in both diploid interphase and mitotic chromosomes and polytene chromosomes. Moreover, the gene encoding HP1/ORC-associated protein was found to display reciprocal dose-dependent variegation modifier phenotypes, similar to those for mutants in HP1 and the ORC 2 subunit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gene A protein cleavage of recombinant plasmids containing the phi X174 replication origin.

Synthetic oligonucleotides, DNA ligase and DNA polymerase were used to construct double-stranded DNA fragments homologous to the first 25, 27 or 30 b.p. of the origin of replication of bacteriophage phi X174 (nucleotides 4299-4328 of the phi X174 DNA sequence). The double-stranded DNA fragments were cloned into the unique SmaI or HindIII restriction sites in the kanamycin-resistance gene of pACYC177 (AmpR, KmR). Recombinant plasmids were picked up by colony hybridization. DNA sequencing showed that not only recombinant plasmids with the expected insert were formed, but also recombinant plasmids with a shorter insert. Recombinant plasmids with an insert homologous to the first 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or all 30 b.p. of the phi X174 origin region were thus obtained. Supercoiled plasmids containing a sequence homologous to the first 27, 28 or 30 b.p. of the phi X174 origin region are nicked by the phi X174 gene A protein. However, the other supercoiled plasmids are not nicked by the phi X174 gene A protein. These results show that the first 27 b.p. of the phi X174 origin region are sufficient as well as required for the initiation step in phi X174 RF DNA replication, i.e. the cleavage by gene A protein.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Replication of transfected plasmid DNA by cells infected with African swine fever virus.

Recombinant plasmids containing African swine fever virus (ASFV) DNA fragments covering all the virus genome were transfected into infected cells in order to detect viral origins of DNA replication. Plasmid replication was monitored by sensitivity to MboI, which cleaves only replicated, unmethylated DNA, and resistance to DpnI, which cleaves only the same methylated sequence. All the recombinants replicated to a similar extent, indicating that ASFV does not use a preferred origin for DNA replication. Circular plasmids without viral inserts were also replicated, but linearized plasmids or lambda bacteriophage DNA were not replicated. Replicated plasmid DNA began to accumulate with a time course similar to viral DNA, starting between 6 and 12 hr p.i. and increasing steadily for about 18 hr. This apparent dependence on viral functions was confirmed by the sensitivity of plasmid replication to phosphonoacetic acid and resistance to aphidicolin and by the reduction of replication in cells infected with a mutant defective in DNA replication. Replicated plasmid DNA present as unit length circles and as large dimension forms, probably head-to-tail concatemers. The results of two-dimensional electrophoresis (neutral/alkaline) favor a rolling-circle mechanism for plasmid DNA replication.

African Swine Fever Virus↗

Construction and characterization of a phage-plasmid hybrid (phagemid), pCAK1, containing the replicative form of viruslike particle CAK1 isolated from Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 6444.

A bacteriophage-plasmid hybrid (phagemid) designated pCAK1 was constructed by ligating 5-kbp Escherichia coli plasmid pAK102 (AprEmr) and the 6.6-kbp HaeIII-linearized replicative form of the CAK1 viruslike particle from Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 6444. Phagemid pCAK1 (11.6 kbp) replicated via the ColE1 replication origin derived from pAK102 in E. coli. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules complexed with protein in a manner which protected ssDNA from nucleases were recovered from the supernatant of E. coli DH11S transformants containing pCAK1 in the absence of cell lysis. This suggests that the viral-strand DNA synthesis replication origin of CAK1 and associated gene expression are functional in E. coli DH11S. The single-stranded form of pCAK1 isolated from E. coli supernatant was transformed into E. coli DH5 alpha' or DH11S by electroporation. Isolation of ampicillin-resistant E. coli transformants following transformation suggests that the complementary-strand DNA synthesis replication origin of CAK1 is also functional in E. coli. The coat proteins associated with ssDNA of pCAK1 demonstrated sensitivity to proteinase K and various solvents (i.e., phenol and chloroform), similar to the results obtained previously with CAK1. Following phagemid construction in E. coli, pCAK1 was transformed into C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824 and C. perfringens 13 by intact cell electroporation. Restriction enzyme analysis of pCAK1 isolated from erythromycin-resistant transformants of both C. acetobutylicum and C. perfringens suggested that it was identical to that present in E. coli transformants.

Bacteriophages↗

Cdc6p-dependent loading of Mcm proteins onto pre-replicative chromatin in budding yeast.

The Cdc6 protein is essential for the assembly of pre-replicative complexes (pre-RCs) at origins of DNA replication in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This reaction is blocked in vivo by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc28p, together with its regulatory subunits, the B type cyclins that are present throughout S, G2, and M phases. Because the destruction of B type cyclins and the consequent inactivation of the kinase are essential for exit from mitosis, pre-RC formation can only occur after passage through mitosis. Therefore, pre-RC formation has been proposed to be essential for coupling S phase and mitosis and for limiting DNA replication to once per cell cycle. The Mcm2-7 family of proteins has been implicated in limiting replication to once per cell cycle from experiments with Xenopus egg extracts. Here we show that the Mcm proteins of budding yeast are abundant and are quantitatively found in a chromatin-enriched fraction specifically during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This chromatin binding depends on the de novo synthesis of Cdc6p, providing evidence that a conserved biochemical pathway plays a critical role in coordinating DNA replication with mitosis in both yeast and higher eukaryotes. Cdc6p and the origin recognition complex can be selectively removed from this chromatin-enriched fraction without removing the Mcm proteins. From these results, we propose that Cdc6p (and the origin recognition complex) nucleates the binding of Mcm proteins to chromatin, but once bound, the Mcm proteins appear to interact tightly with some other component of chromatin.

Cell Cycle↗

Nucleotide assignment of alkali-sensitive sites in mouse mitochondrial DNA.

Mature, closed circular mouse mitochondrial DNA contains a significant number of ribonucleotides throughout the genome. Previous studies have implicated the two origins of DNA replication as preferred sites of ribonucleotide retention. We have analyzed the site specificity of ribosubstitution by direct sizing of alkali-treated restriction fragments in comparison with the DNA sequence of untreated restriction fragments of cloned mouse mitochondrial DNA. These results have confirmed the observations that ribonucleotides are retained at the two origins of replication and are most likely remnants of RNA priming events associated with DNA replication. The map location of ribonucleotides at the light strand origin of replication has been refined to a triplet nucleotide (5'-CGG-3') in the light strand initiation region. This approach has demonstrated that all four deoxyribonucleotides are subject to ribosubstitution and no single base (or subset of the four bases) predominates. An examination of selected regions of the mitochondrial DNA genome including the putative coding region for cytochrome oxidase subunit III and regions containing the genes for tRNAPhe, tRNAVal, 12 S rRNA, and 16 S rRNA reveals preferred sites for ribosubstitution. These preferred sites do not relate in any obvious way to the functional aspects of these domains. In addition, the data indicate that every position in the DNA sequences examined can be ribosubstituted at a very low frequency.

Animals↗

In vivo activity for initiation of DNA replication resides in a transcribed region of the human genome.

The potential for autonomous replicating activity has been demonstrated, in the preceding paper, to exist in abundance in those sequences which are transcribed from the genome of human embryonic lung fibroblasts (IMR90). In this paper we demonstrate for one sequence present in an 'O'-family homologous cDNA clone (clone 343), the likelihood of its in vivo activity by analysis of nascent replicated strands. Analysis of seven independent sources of human DNA with three different restriction enzyme digests failed to reveal any significant polymorphisms of the cDNA 343 homologous sequence. Homologous sequences were found in human, cow, mouse and monkey DNA, but not in rat, dog, rabbit, chicken or yeast DNA. An approx. 18 kbp fragment obtained as a clone from a genomic library of human embryonic lung fibroblasts was found to contain the sequence present in cDNA 343 in a 2.2 kbp EcoRI fragment. Sequence analysis of the clone provided three regions suitable for use as oligonucleotide primers in a PCR method of mapping the in vivo site of initiation of DNA replication. The initiation zone and a chromosomal origin for DNA replication are mapped to a region of approximately 1.6 kpb and were inclusive of the sequence detected in cDNA 343.

Base Sequence↗

Inhibition of DNA synthesis at the hemimethylated pBR322 origin of replication by a cell membrane fraction.

The replication of both ColE1-type plasmids and plasmids bearing the origin of replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome (oriC) has been shown to be inhibited by hemimethylation of adenine residues within GATC sequences. In the case of oriC plasmids, this inhibition was previously shown to be mediated by the specific affinity of the hemimethylated origin DNA for an outer cell membrane fraction. Here, we suggest that a similar mechanism is operating in the case of the ColE1-like plasmid pBR322 as (i) a hemimethylated DNA fragment carrying the promoter for the RNA which primes DNA synthesis (RNAII) is specifically bound by the same membrane fraction and, (ii) the addition of the membrane fraction to a soluble assay of pBR322 replication results in preferential inhibition of initiation on the hemimethylated template. We suggest that membrane sequestration of hemimethylated origin DNA and/or associated replication genes following replication may be a common element restricting DNA replication to precise moments in the cell cycle.

Base Sequence↗

Bacteriophage T4 proteins replicate plasmids with a preformed R loop at the T4 ori(uvsY) replication origin in vitro.

Bacteriophage T4 DNA replication proteins catalyze complete unidirectional replication of plasmids containing the T4 ori(uvsY) replication origin in vitro, beginning with a preformed R loop at the position of the origin R loop previously identified in vivo. T4 DNA polymerase, clamp, clamp loader, and 32 protein are needed for initial elongation of the RNA, which serves as the leading-strand primer. Normal replication is dependent on T4 41 helicase and 61 primase and is strongly stimulated by the 59 helicase loading protein. 59 protein slows replication without the helicase. As expected, leading-strand synthesis stalls prematurely in the absence of T4 DNA topoisomerase. A DNA unwinding element (DUE) is essential for replication, but the ori(uvsY) DUE can be replaced by other DUE sequences.

Bacteriophage T4↗

The ease of DNA unwinding as a determinant of initiation at yeast replication origins.

We have localized the DNA sequence that facilitates unwinding of a yeast replication origin, the H4 ARS. The readily unwound sequence lies adjacent to the previously characterized consensus core sequence of the ARS. Unwinding is detected through the formation of a single-strand-specific nuclease hypersensitive site in H4 ARS mutant derivatives present on supercoiled plasmids. Linker-scanning and linker-deletion derivatives exhibit wild-type nuclease hypersensitivity and ARS function, while large external deletions reduce or eliminate nuclease detectable unwinding and origin function. ARS unwinding and origin function can be rescued in the deletion mutants by inserting a biologically unrelated sequence with DNA unwinding properties similar to a functional ARS. The data clarify the nature of DNA sequence requirements in the ARS by suggesting that small substitutions, insertions, and deletions are tolerated in the region flanking the consensus core sequence because they do not significantly alter the unwinding properties of the region.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗