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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↗

Sequence organization in regulatory regions of DNA of minute virus of mice.

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of minute virus of mice (MVM) DNA indicates that the DNA termini contain clusters of potential DNA regulatory elements and that there are repetitive DNA elements highly reiterated throughout the entire genome, which may also have a role in DNA function. The left end of MVM DNA, which contains the promoter for the nonstructural genes, has a cluster of DNA elements that includes homologies to the polyoma virus enhancer, three copies of an E1A-inducible transcription factor (ATF) binding site, and a potential Z-DNA element. The MVM right end, which contains the origin of DNA replication, has a cluster of DNA elements that includes several homologies to the polyoma virus replication origin and a potential Z-DNA element. In addition, oligonucleotide frequency analysis indicates the presence of highly recurring sequence elements throughout the entire MVM genome that may be involved in regulation. This computer-aided analysis suggests similarities and significant differences in regulatory sequence organization between MVM and polyoma virus, and identifies specific DNA elements for future genetic characterization.

Activating Transcription Factors↗

In vitro reconstitution of the end replication problem.

The end replication problem hypothesis proposes that the ends of linear DNA cannot be replicated completely during lagging strand DNA synthesis. Although the idea has been widely accepted for explaining telomere attrition during cell proliferation, it has never been directly demonstrated. In order to take a biochemical approach to understand how linear DNA ends are replicated, we have established a novel in vitro linear simian virus 40 DNA replication system. In this system, terminally biotin-labeled linear DNAs are conjugated to avidin-coated beads and subjected to replication reactions. Linear DNA was efficiently replicated under optimized conditions, and replication products that had replicated using the original DNA templates were specifically analyzed by purifying bead-bound replication products. By exploiting this system, we showed that while the leading strand is completely synthesized to the end, lagging strand synthesis is gradually halted in the terminal approximately 500-bp region, leaving 3' overhangs. This result is consistent with observations in telomerase-negative mammalian cells and formally demonstrates the end replication problem. This study provides a basis for studying the details of telomere replication.

Animals↗

Differential DNA binding of Ku antigen determines its involvement in DNA replication.

Ku antigen (Ku70/Ku80) is a regulatory subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase, which participates in the regulation of DNA replication and gene transcription through specific DNA sequences. In this study, we have compared the mechanism of action of Ku from A3/4, a DNA sequence that appears in mammalian origins of DNA replication, and NRE1, a transcriptional regulatory element in the long terminal repeat of mouse mammary tumor virus through which Ku antigen and its associated kinase, DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK(cs)), act to repress steroid-induced transcription. Our results indicate that replication from a minimal replication origin of ors8 is independent of DNA-PK(cs) and that Ku interacts with A3/4-like sequences and NRE1 in fundamentally different ways. UV crosslinking experiments revealed differential interactions of the Ku subunits with A3/4, NRE1, and two other proposed Ku transcriptional regulatory elements. In vitro footprinting experiments showed direct contact of Ku on A3/4 and over the region of ors8 homologous to A3/4. In vitro replication assays using ors8 templates bearing mutations in the A3/4-like sequence suggested that Ku binding to this element was necessary for replication. By contrast, in vitro replication experiments revealed that NRE1 was not involved in DNA replication. Our results establish A3/4 as a new class of Ku DNA binding site. Classification of Ku DNA binding into eight categories of interaction based on recognition and DNA crosslinking experiments is discussed.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Phasing of nucleosomes in SV40 chromatin reconstituted in vitro.

Phasing of nucleosomes on SV40 DNA was studied by the reconstitution of chromatin from SV40 DNA form I and core histones. The reconstituted chromatin sedimented with increasing S values as the histone : DNA ratios increased, and the buoyant densities in CsCl decreased concomitantly. The average repeat lengths of nucleosomes in the chromatin reconstituted at ratios of 1.0 and 1.5 were estimated to be 168 and 143 base pairs, respectively, by electrophoretic analysis of DNA fragments generated by micrococcal nuclease digestion. The chromatin generated a series of DNA bands that differed in size by about 10 nucleotides upon DNase I digestion followed by heat-denaturation. Phasing of nucleosomes was probed by the use of single-site restriction endonucleases, EcoRI, BamH1, BglI, and HpaII: the latter two cleave DNA at and near the origin of DNA replication and transcription. The form I DNA in the chromatin reconstituted at ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 was cleaved up to 60 to 80%, 20 to 60%, and 0 to 10%, respectively. Although the frequency of cleavage by these enzymes was not very different at the ratio 0.5, the BglI site became relatively more susceptible than the other sites at the ratio 1.0. At the ratio 1.5, the DNA was almost resistant to these enzymes, though a significant amount (10%) was cleaved by BglI. These results suggest that the origin is the site unfavorable for nucleosome phasing although the region can be almost completely covered with nucleosomes at higher histone : DNA ratios. The fraction of chromatin immunoprecipitated with anti-T serum after in vitro T antigen binding also decreased with increase in the histone : DNA ratios. The results suggest that T antigen binds preferentially to the internucleosomal region. T antigen preferentially bound to the chromatin reconstituted with the DNA fragment containing the origin. Inefficient phasing of nucleosomes at the origin of DNA replication may facilitate the binding of T antigen to the origin.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Recruitment of Xenopus Scc2 and cohesin to chromatin requires the pre-replication complex.

Cohesin is a multi-subunit, ring-shaped protein complex that holds sister chromatids together from the time of their synthesis in S phase until they are segregated in anaphase. In yeast, the loading of cohesin onto chromosomes requires the Scc2 protein. In vertebrates, cohesins first bind to chromosomes as cells exit mitosis, but the mechanism is unknown. Concurrent with cohesin binding, pre-replication complexes (pre-RCs) are assembled at origins of DNA replication through the sequential loading of the initiation factors ORC, Cdc6, Cdt1 and MCM2-7 (the 'licensing' reaction). In S phase, the protein kinase Cdk2 activates pre-RCs, causing origin unwinding and DNA replication. Here, we use Xenopus egg extracts to show that the recruitment of cohesins to chromosomes requires fully licensed chromatin and is dependent on ORC, Cdc6, Cdt1 and MCM2-7, but is independent of Cdk2. We further show that Xenopus Scc2 is required for cohesin loading and that binding of XScc2 to chromatin is MCM2-7 dependent. Our results define a novel pre-RC-dependent pathway for cohesin recruitment to chromosomes in a vertebrate model system.

Animals↗

Geminivirus DNA replication and cell cycle interactions.

The Geminiviridae family includes a large number of viruses that infect plants and have a unique geminate virion particle, a single-stranded genome of approximately 2.6-3.0 kb, and replicate through a rolling-circle mechanism. Since they encode for just a few proteins (4-6 depending on the members that belong to four different genera), a rich variety of interactions has evolved between viral proteins and host factors to develop the virus replicative cycle. Among them, we have been particularly interested so far: (i). in the interference with cell cycle regulatory proteins of the retinoblastoma-related (RBR)/E2F pathway and (ii). in the interaction with host DNA replication factors necessary for the assembly of a functional replication complex at the viral origin of DNA replication during the rolling-circle stage. Yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that wheat dwarf virus RepA protein, but nor Rep protein, interacts with plant RBR protein. Interestingly, deletion of the C-terminal domain of Rep confers the truncated protein the ability to interact with RBR, suggesting that this domain may hinder the LXCXE RBR-binding motif. Secondary structure predictions support such a possibility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Skew of mononucleotide frequencies, relative abundance of dinucleotides, and DNA strand asymmetry.

Based on 152 mitochondrial genomes and 36 bacterial chromosomes that have been completely sequenced, as well as three long contigs for human chromosomes 6, 21, and 22, we examined skews of mononucleotide frequencies and the relative abundance of dinucleotides in one DNA strand. Each group of these genomes has its own characteristics. Regarding mitochondrial genomes, both CpG and GpT are underrepresented, while either GpG or CpC or both are overrepresented. The relative frequency of nucleotide T vs A and of nucleotide G vs C is strongly skewed, due presumably to strand asymmetry in replication errors and unidirectional DNA replication from single origins. Exceptions are found in the plant and yeast mitochondrial genomes, each of which may replicate from multiple origins. Regarding bacterial genomes, the "universal" rule of CpG deficiency is restricted to archaebacteria and some eubacteria. In other eubacteria, the most underrepresented dinucleotide is either TpA or GpT. In general, there are significant T vs A and G vs C skews in each half of the bacterial genome, although these are almost exactly canceled out over the whole genome. Regarding human chromosomes 6, 21, and 22, dinucleotide CpG tends to be avoided. The relative frequency of mononucleotides exhibits conspicuous local skews, suggesting that each of these chromosomal segments contains more than one DNA replication origin. It is concluded that, when there are several replicons in a genomic region, not only the number of DNA replication origins but also the directionality is important and that the observed patterns of nucleotide frequencies in the genome strongly support the hypothesis of strand asymmetry in replication errors.

Animals↗

Escherichia coli topoisomerase I can segregate replicating pBR322 daughter DNA molecules in vitro.

The reconstituted pBR322 DNA replication system has been used to identify a mechanism for the processing and segregation of daughter DNA molecules by Escherichia coli topoisomerase I (Topo I) during the terminal stages of DNA replication. At low concentrations of Topo I (sufficient to confer specificity to the replication system for DNA templates containing a ColE1-type origin of DNA replication), the major products of the replication reaction were: multigenome-length, linear, double-stranded DNA molecules (an aberrant product); multiply interlinked, catenated, supercoiled DNA dimers; and a last Cairns-type replication intermediate. Thirty- to fifty-fold higher concentrations of Topo I led to the appearance of form II and form I pBR322 DNA as the only synthetic products. A model was developed in which Topo I, bound to a single-stranded gap on the parental H strand DNA just upstream of the origin of DNA replication, catalyzed the decatenation of the intermolecular linkages between the two daughter DNA molecules that were generated by primosome-catalyzed unwinding of the residual nonreplicated parental duplex DNA in the last Cairns-type intermediate. At low concentrations of Topo I, however, the intermolecular linkages persisted and, within the context of this replication system, were not removed by DNA gyrase. In support of this model it was demonstrated that: there was a single-stranded gap between the nonreplicated parental duplex region and the 5' end of the nascent leading-strand DNA; the number of intermolecular linkages in the catenated supercoiled DNA dimers was inversely related to the concentration of Topo I; the supercoiled DNA dimers did not serve as a precursor of the final form I DNA product; and maturation of the last Cairns-type replication intermediate to form I DNA was not affected by the presence of coumermycin, a potent inhibitor of the activities of DNA gyrase.

DNA Replication↗

Methylation strongly enhances DNA bending in the replication origin region of the Escherichia coli chromosome.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, at high and low temperatures, and gel mobilities of circularly permuted DNA segments showed a large bending locus about 50 bp downstream from the right border of the 245 bp oriC box, a minimal essential region of autonomous replication on the Escherichia coli chromosome. Bending was strongly enhanced by Dam methylation. In DNA from a Dam- strain, the mobility anomaly arising from altered conformation was much reduced, but was raised to the original level by methylation in vivo or in vitro. Enhancement of the mobility anomaly was also observed by hybrid formation of the Dam- strand with the Dam+ strand. Near the bending center, GATC, the target of Dam methylase, occurs seven times arranged essentially on the same face of the helix with 10.5 bp per turn. We concluded that small bends at each Dam site added up to the large bending detectable by gel electrophoresis.

Bacterial Proteins↗

ORC- and Cdc6-dependent complexes at active and inactive chromosomal replication origins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have developed a genomic footprinting protocol which allows us to examine protein-DNA interactions at single copy chromosomal origins of DNA replication in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that active replication origins oscillate between two chromatin states during the cell cycle: an origin recognition complex (ORC)-dependent post-replicative state and a Cdc6p-dependent pre-replicative state. Furthermore, we show that both post- and pre-replicative complexes can form efficiently on closely apposed replicators. Surprisingly, ARS301 which is active as an origin on plasmids but not in its normal chromosomal location, forms ORC- and Cdc6p-dependent complexes in both its active and inactive contexts. Thus, although ORC and Cdc6p are essential for initiation, their binding is not sufficient to dictate origin use.

Base Sequence↗

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↗

DNA curvature in front of the human mitochondrial L-strand replication origin with specific protein binding.

DNA bending has been suggested to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, initiation of DNA-replication, site specific recombination, and DNA packaging. In the human mitochondrial DNA we have found a DNA curvature structure within the 3'-region of ther URF2 sequence in front of the L-strand origin of replication. This structure interacts specifically with a protein factor isolated from mitochondria. Based on the localization of this DNA curvature structure and the known function of such structures the data suggest a model in which this DNA signal sequence and its specific protein binding is involved in the regulatory initiation event of L-strand replication.

Base Sequence↗

Analysis of an Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus lef-11 knockout: LEF-11 is essential for viral DNA replication.

The Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) lef-11 gene was previously identified by transient late expression assays as a gene important for viral late gene expression. The lef-11 gene was not previously identified as necessary for DNA replication in transient origin-dependent plasmid DNA replication assays. To examine the role of lef-11 in the context of the infection cycle, we generated a deletion of the lef-11 gene by recombination in an AcMNPV genome propagated as a BACmid in Escherichia coli. The resulting AcMNPV lef-11-null BACmid (vAc(lef11KO)) was unable to propagate in cell culture, although a "repair" AcMNPV BACmid (vAc(lef11KO-REP)), which was generated by transposition of the lef-11 gene into the polyhedrin locus of the vAc(lef11KO) BACmid, was able to replicate in a manner similar to wild-type or control AcMNPV viruses. Thus, the lef-11 gene is essential for viral replication in Sf9 cells. The vAc(lef11KO) BACmid was examined to determine if the defect in viral replication resulted from a defect in DNA replication or from a defect in late transcription. The lef-11-null BACmid and control BACmids were transfected into Sf9 cells, and viral DNA replication was monitored. The viral DNA genome of the lef-11-null BACmid (vAc(lef11KO)) was not amplified, whereas replication and amplification of the genomes of the repair BACmid (vAc(lef11KO-REP)), wild-type AcMNPV, and a nonpropagating gp64-null control BACmid (vAc(GUSgp64KO)) were readily detected. Northern blot analysis of transcripts from selected early, late, and very late genes showed that late and very late transcription was absent in cells transfected with the lef-11-null BACmid. Thus, in contrast to prior studies using transient replication and late expression assays, studies of a lef-11-null BACmid indicate that LEF-11 is required for viral DNA replication during the infection cycle.

Animals↗

The box VII motif of Escherichia coli DnaA protein is required for DnaA oligomerization at the E. coli replication origin.

Escherichia coli DnaA protein initiates DNA replication from the chromosomal origin, oriC, and regulates the frequency of this process. Structure-function studies indicate that the replication initiator comprises four domains. Based on the structural similarity of Aquifex aeolicus DnaA to other AAA+ proteins that are oligomeric, it was proposed that Domain III functions in oligomerization at oriC (Erzberger, J. P., Pirruccello, M. M., and Berger, J. M. (2002) EMBO J. 21, 4763-4773). Because the Box VII motif within Domain III is conserved among DnaA homologues and may function in oligomerization, we substituted conserved Box VII amino acids of E. coli DnaA with alanine by site-directed mutagenesis to examine the role of this motif. All mutant proteins are inactive in initiation from oriC in vivo and in vitro, but they support RK2 plasmid DNA replication in vivo. Thus, RK2 requires only a subset of DnaA functions for plasmid DNA replication. Biochemical studies on a mutant DnaA carrying an alanine substitution at arginine 281 (R281A) in Box VII show that it is inactive in in vitro replication of an oriC plasmid, but this defect is not from the failure to bind to ATP, DnaB in the DnaB-DnaC complex, or oriC. Because the mutant DnaA is also active in the strand opening of oriC, whereas DnaB fails to bind to this unwound region, the open structure is insufficient by itself to load DnaB helicase. Our results show that the mutant fails to form a stable oligomeric DnaA-oriC complex, which is required for the loading of DnaB.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Chimeric herpes simplex virus/adeno-associated virus amplicon vectors.

Chimeric or hybrid herpes simplex virus type 1/adeno-associated virus amplicon vectors combine the large transgene capacity of HSV-1 with the potential for site-specific genomic integration and stable transgene expression of AAV. These chimeric vectors have been demonstrated to support transgene expression for significantly longer periods than standard HSV-1 amplicons. Moreover, HSV/AAV hybrid vectors can mediate integration at the AAVS1 pre-integration site on human chromosome 19 at a relatively high rate, although random integration has also been observed. One major remaining hurdle of HSV/AAV hybrid vectors is the low packaging efficiency and titers when AAV rep sequences are included in the amplicon vector. In the conditions prevalent during the replication/packaging of HSV/AAV hybrid amplicons into HSV-1 virions, in particular the presence of HSV-1 replication factors and AAV Rep protein, at least three different viral origins of DNA replication are active: the HSV-1 ori, the AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), and the p5 promoter/ori driving expression of the AAV rep gene. A detailed understanding of the properties of these origins of DNA replication and the molecular mechanisms of interactions between them, may allow designing novel hybrid vectors that allow the efficient and precise integration of large transgenes in the human genome.

Dependovirus↗

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ori-Lyt-dependent DNA replication: cis-acting requirements for replication and ori-Lyt-associated RNA transcription.

Herpesvirus lytic DNA replication requires both the cis-acting element, the origin, and trans-acting factors such as virally encoded origin-binding protein and DNA replication enzymes. Recently, the origins of lytic DNA replication (ori-Lyt) in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) have been identified and a virally encoded bZip protein, K8, has been shown to specifically bind to the origin. To map cis-acting elements within KSHV ori-Lyt that are required for DNA replication function and to define the nature of K8 bZip protein binding to the origin, we constructed consecutive internal deletion mutations across the core domain of a KSHV ori-Lyt and tested them for DNA replication function in a transient replication assay. This mutagenesis study allowed the identification of four components within the ori-Lyt, and all were indispensable for ori-Lyt function. The first component contains eight CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding motifs that organize as four spaced C/EBP palindromes. Each palindrome contains two head-to-head CCAAT consensus motifs that are separated by a 13- or 12-bp space sequence. Substitution mutagenesis of these C/EBP motifs showed that these C/EBP palindromes are required for both K8 binding and ori-Lyt-dependent DNA replication. The second component is an 18-bp AT palindrome, which is essential for ori-Lyt function. The third component was determined to be a 32-bp previously unidentified sequence and is required for DNA replication. The last component consists of an open reading frame 50 (ORF50)/Rta responsive element (RRE) and a TATA box. We showed that the binding of an ORF50/Rta protein to the RRE was essential for ori-Lyt-dependent DNA replication. The presence of a functional RRE and a downstream TATA box suggested that this region serves as an ORF50/Rta-dependent promoter and a transcription event may be necessary for ori-Lyt-dependent DNA replication. Using a luciferase reporter system, we demonstrated that the region of the RRE and TATA box constitutes an ORF50/Rta-dependent promoter. Furthermore, a polyadenylated RNA of 1.4 kb was identified downstream of the promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗