Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “NUCLEASES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 991 records · Page 55Linked to original sources

A 200 base pair region at the 5' end of the chicken adult beta-globin gene is accessible to nuclease digestion.

A DNA segment close to the 5' end of the chicken adult beta-globin gene contains a hypersensitive site for nuclease action. Using a variety of endonucleases, we show that this hypersensitive site is in fact an accessible region, which extends from approximately 60 to approximately 260 base pairs 5' from the start of mRNA transcription. The presence of this hypersensitive region is correlated with gene activity; it is observed in nuclei isolated from the definitive erythrocytes of 14-day chicken embryos, but is not observed in nuclei isolated from the primitive erythrocytes of 5-day embryos (which do not express this gene) or in brain nuclei or purified DNA. The close spacing of accessible digestion sites on this DNA segment is not consistent with the presence of a normal nucleosome. Furthermore, a 115 base pair DNA fragment contained within this nuclease-sensitive region can be excised by Msp I digestion and released from nuclei, in at least 50% yield. Approximately one third of the released fragments behave as protein-free DNA.

Animals↗

An altered DNA conformation detected by S1 nuclease occurs at specific regions in active chick globin chromatin.

The single-stranded activity of S1-nuclease cleaves globin chromatin in red cell nuclei in specific regions. The cleavages are observed only in tissues in which the globin genes are active, and they "switch" to reflect the switching pattern of globin-gene expression in embryonic and adult red cells. The positions of the S1 cleavages in the beta- and alpha-globin chromatin correspond to the general region of known DNAase I-hypersensitive sites, but can be distinguished in detail. When DNA segments containing these regions are subcloned into pBR322 and the supercoiled molecules are treated with S1, similar sites are cleaved in the purified supercoiled (but not linear) recombinant plasmid DNA. However, the dominant S1 cutting sites are shifted in the plasmid vis-a-vis the chromatin. We believe that some aspect of DNA sequence is translated into an altered DNA structure in chromatin and that it is this altered structure that is recognized by s1 nuclease and possibly by certain chromosomal proteins. Several physical properties reflected in the S1 digestion of supercoiled plasmids suggest a mechanism for generating differences in daughter cells during development.

Animals↗

A novel repair enzyme: UVRABC excision nuclease of Escherichia coli cuts a DNA strand on both sides of the damaged region.

The uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC proteins of Escherichia coli were purified from strains that greatly overproduce these proteins. Using the purified proteins, the UVRABC nuclease was reconstituted in vitro. The reconstituted enzyme acted specifically on DNA damaged with UV, cis-platinum, and psoralen plus near UV. When UV-irradiated DNA was used as substrate, the enzyme made two cuts on the damaged DNA strand, one on each side of the damaged region. The enzyme hydrolyzed the eighth phosphodiester bond on the 5' side of pyrimidine dimers. On the 3' side of pyrimidine dimers, the UVRABC nuclease cut the fourth or the fifth phosphodiester bond 3' to pyrimidine dimers. The oligonucleotide with the damaged bases that is generated by these two cuts was released during treatment with the enzyme. We have also obtained evidence suggesting that the enzyme acts by the same mechanism on PydC photoproducts which are thought to be of primary importance in UV-induced mutagenesis.

DNA Repair↗

Structure and function of the S1 nuclease-sensitive site in the adenovirus late promoter.

We analyzed an S1 nuclease-sensitive site present in supercoiled, but not linear, recombinant plasmids containing the adenovirus late promoter. S1 nicking was detected on both strands, primarily in the TATA box. Analysis of deletion mutants showed that sequences upstream of -47 and downstream of -12 are not required for S1 cutting. However, a number of different base substitution mutations in stretches of G residues upstream and/or downstream of the TATA box were sufficient to eliminate S1 cutting. When the transcriptional activities of these mutant promoters were assayed in vivo, six of seven mutants lacking the ability to form the S1-sensitive structure showed no reduction in transcriptional potential. In fact, several showed increased promoter activities. These data show that the S1 nuclease cutting site in the adenovirus late promoter has precise nucleotide sequence requirements for its formation. However, the ability of recombinant plasmids to adapt this conformation in vitro is not necessary for such plasmids to serve as templates for transcription in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗

Effects of ionic strength on endogenous nuclease activity in chelated and nonchelated chromatin.

Calf thymus chromatin, isolated using a standard (low ionic strength, but nonchelating) isolation protocol, dialyzed against either Tris-PMSF or Tris-EDTA, was reconstituted in a high salt compacting buffer (COM) or a low salt dispersing buffer (DIS) prior to digestion with endogenous nucleases. A greater level of enzyme activity occurred when chromatin was in a condensed state (COM buffer) and not chelated prior to digestion. In contrast, chromatin chelated by dialysis against Tris-EDTA prior to digestion showed higher levels of enzyme activity in the dispersed state (DIS buffer). Nonchelated undigested chromatin contained 0.280 +/- 0.16 ug copper/mg DNA and and 0.305 +/+- 0.09 ug zinc/mg DNA. Chelation removed about 78% of copper per mg DNA and approximately 65% of zinc per mg DNA. In COM buffer after a 20 min digestion, the solubilized fraction was enriched in copper showing about 20 X more metal per mg DNA than nonchelated chromatin. Approximately the same amount of zinc was found in both chelated and nonchelated chromatin while there was less zinc in chelated chromatin solubilized in DIS buffer. Thus, chelation has important effects on the digestibility of chromatin and on the type of ionic environment that provides the most favorable conditions for endogenous nuclease activity.

Animals↗

Measurement of gene-specific transcription by nuclease protection of pulse-labeled nuclear RNA.

A gene-specific transcription assay was developed that is based on pulse-labeled incorporation of [3H]uridine into nuclear RNA. Transcription is quantified by scintillation counting of [3H]uridine incorporated into nuclear RNA that is protected from S1 nuclease digestion by hybridization with cold gene probes. This assay was dependent upon partial degradation of nuclear RNA and optimization of hybridization and nuclease digestion conditions. To validate this assay, transcription of beta-actin and c-myc genes was measured in two different human cell lines using the incorporation assay in parallel with the nuclear run-off assay. Transcription kinetics of the beta-actin and c-myc genes in serum-stimulated fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells determined by [3H]uridine incorporation were comparable to that determined by the nuclear run-off method. For beta-actin, there was an approximate 2-fold increase in transcription rate within two hours of stimulation that declined to basal levels by 20 h. The c-myc gene response followed a similar kinetics as for the beta-actin gene except that maximal enhancement was greater at 6-9-fold. The relative transcriptional activities of the beta-actin gene to that of the c-myc gene were virtually identical using the two assay methods. Comparable transcription results using both methods were also observed when beta-actin and c-myc gene transcription were measured in log-phase HL-60 leukemia cells.

Actins↗

DNA fragments of altered electrophoretic mobility in leukemia samples can arise from double-strand DNA breaks at nuclease hypersensitive sites of active genes.

Chromosome translocations that disrupt or alter gene function have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of malignancies. Therefore, identification of a translocation breakpoint has become a more important means by which to identify genes involved in cellular transformation. A common site of translocation in myeloid and lymphoid malignancies involves 11q23. One human protooncogene, ETS1, has been localized to this chromosomal segment, and several tumours with 11q23 translocations have been shown to have altered ETS1 DNA migration after restriction enzyme digestion. Two laboratories, however, have recently localized the 11q23 breakpoint region to a small region of DNA telomeric of the CD3 loci, a region at considerable distance from the ETS1 gene locus. Therefore, it is difficult to reconcile the studies that suggest altered migration of fragments associated with ETS1 and lack of a localization of the breakpoint to a region near the ETS1 gene. Recently, in our studies to characterize the promoter/enhancer region of the ETS1 protooncogene, we had the opportunity to analyze DNA from 18 patients with acute leukemia involving chromosome 11q23 aberrations. We were unable to demonstrate rearrangement of the ETS1 gene in this group, thus confirming that the 11q23 breakpoint does not involve ETS1 protooncogene. In one patient, however, a DNA break in the region of the ETS1 promoter was detected reproducibly. This DNA break was mapped to the major DNaseI hypersensitive site in the ETS1 promoter. Mapping from both sides of the break demonstrated that the break must have occurred during processing of the leukemic cells for DNA analysis. Therefore, artifactual DNA breaks can occur at nuclease-hypersensitive sites of active genes. These data suggest that previous reports of chromosomal translocations involving the ETS1 protooncogene may have resulted from DNA breaks at nuclease hypersensitive sites. This mechanism may account for sporadic case reports of altered restriction enzyme fragment migration involving genes that are not ultimately shown to be associated with the chromosome translocation being examined.

Adolescent↗

Induction of chromosomal aberrations with benzon nuclease in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

Benzon nuclease, an endonuclease originating from Serratia marcescens, was tested for its chromosome breaking activity in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Using a permeabilizing method with hypertonic glycerol, benzon nuclease induced chromosomal aberrations in an S-phase independent manner. The frequencies of polycentric chromosomes were correlated with the dose of the enzyme and the intercellular distribution of aberrations was overdispersed.

Animals↗

Effect of spermine on cleavage of plasmid DNA by nucleases S1 and Bal 31.

S1, a single-strand-specific nuclease, cleaves both strands of supercoiled DNA mostly once at unpaired sites. However, all the sites are not cleaved with the same frequency by the enzyme, there being sites of preferential cleavage and infrequent ones. Spermine was found to reduce this cleavage specificity of S1 with supercoiled plasmid DNA. A similar effect of spermine was observed with Bal 31 nuclease. Bal 31 contains in addition to S1-like activity a quasi-processive exonuclease activity that simultaneously degrades both 3'- and 5'-termini of linearized duplex DNA. Spermine stimulated the exonuclease activity. The above results were obtained within the concentration range of spermine that did not induce DNA aggregation.

DNA, Bacterial↗

Nuclease S1-sensitive sites on superhelical DNA molecules carrying the LTR region of Moloney murine leukemia virus.

The long terminal repeat (LTR) from proviral DNA of Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) was cloned on a derivative of pBR322, and after introducing superhelical torsions into the resulting recombinant, the sites of conformational transition were investigated by the nuclease S1-digestion method. With an increase in the negative linking differences, fourteen dominant cutting sites were identified, of which two were mapped inside the LTR and one at the 3' end of the LTR. By searching the sequence data, all these sites were localized in the regions having either palindromic sequences or AT-rich sequences. Free energy calculation for the local secondary structure on one strand indicated that nuclease S1 attacked the palindromic sequence regions which could form relatively stable hairpin structures. Under the conditions used, no correlation was found between the S1-sensitive sites and the potential Z-DNA-forming regions, including those within the enhancer sequence.

Base Sequence↗

Specific amplification of deleted mitochondrial DNA from a myopathic patient and analysis of deleted region with S1 nuclease.

Heteroplasmy of the normal-sized and the deleted mitochondrial genome has been observed in mitochondrial myopathy. The deleted region of the genome in the skeletal muscle of a patient was analyzed both by the conventional Southern blot method and by the novel method of employing the combination of polymerase chain reaction and S1 nuclease digestion. The results obtained by these methods were compared. Southern hybridization using various mitochondrial DNA fragments localized the deletion from at least position 9020 to 14,955, but regions of uncertainty of 1 kb remained on both ends of the deletion. Using the polymerase chain reaction, a fragment from the deleted genome was specifically amplified by choosing a pair of primers surrounding the deletion, and two fragments adjacent to the starting and end of the deletion were amplified from the normal-sized genome. S1 nuclease analysis of the heteroduplexes formed among these fragments demonstrated that the deletion extended from positions 8650 +/- 50 to 15,660 +/- 60. This method does not require radioisotopes and, moreover, can determine the deleted region within 5 h, in contrast to the 2 days required by the conventional Southern blot analysis. These results indicate that the novel method is faster and more accurate than the conventional method for the determination of the deleted region of genome.

Adult↗

Mechanism of exonuclease action of BAL 31 nuclease.

Two kinetically and molecularly distinct forms ('fast' (F) and 'slow' (S] of nuclease BAL 31 from Alteromonas espejiana effect the length reduction of linear duplex DNAs through a 3'----5'-directed exonuclease activity in conjunction with an endonuclease activity against the 5'-terminated single-stranded tails generated by the exonuclease activity. No evidence for a 5'----3' mode of exonuclease action was seen. Single-stranded DNA is degraded predominantly by the 3'----5' exonuclease action. There is a pronounced decrease, to roughly constant values, of the average lengths of the tails in partially digested duplexes at a constant extent of digestion with increasing nuclease concentration. This decrease correlates with an increasing extent of ligatability, in the absence of repair, under conditions favoring the joining of fully base-paired ends. The exonuclease action, at least against duplex substrates, is quasi-processive and removes approx. 18 and 28 nucleotides per productive enzyme-substrate encounter for the S and F species, respectively. The dependence on Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations of the activities has been determined.

Bacteriophages↗

A mouse DNA repair enzyme (APEX nuclease) having exonuclease and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activities: purification and characterization.

A mouse repair enzyme having priming activity on bleomycin-damaged DNA for DNA polymerase was purified to apparent homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme extracted from permeabilized mouse ascites sarcoma (SR-C3H/He) cells with 0.2 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) was purified by successive chromatographies on phosphocellulose, DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose (a second time), Sephadex G-100, single-stranded DNA cellulose and hydroxyapatite. The purified enzyme has an Mr of 34,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enzymatical studies indicated that it is a multifunctional enzyme having exonuclease, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease and phosphatase activities, similar to Escherichia coli exonuclease III. This enzyme is tentatively designated as APEX nuclease for apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease and exonuclease activities. The amino acid composition, amino-terminal amino acid sequence and an internal amino acid sequence of APEX nuclease are determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetics and mechanism of BAL 31 nuclease action on small substrates and single-stranded DNA.

Kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the action of two forms of the BAL 31 nuclease (EC 3.1.11) from Alteromonas espejiana on model substrates, small oligonucleotides, larger oligonucleotides and poly[d(A)] have been examined. The minimal oligonucleotide substrate is a 5'-phosphorylated dinucleotide and a phosphodiester not containing a nucleotide residue is not cleaved. Both forms act predominantly in an exonucleolytic fashion on single-stranded DNA polymers in a highly processive manner; however, the mechanism becomes distributive for small oligomers (3-4 nucleotide residues). The direction of attack is from the 5' end, in contrast to the mode of digestion of duplex DNA which involves attack at the 3' termini. An endonucleolytic mode of attack also exists, but at a level 2-3% or less of that of the terminally directed cleavage. Apparent values for the catalytic efficiency of the action on long DNA polymers are too large to fit a simple kinetic scheme involving a direct enzyme-substrate encounter and lead to an interpretation in which nuclease molecules are non-productively bound away from the 5' ends and undergo facilitated diffusion to yield productive (terminally bound) enzyme-substrate complexes.

Autoradiography↗

Intracellular organization of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA assayed by staphylococcal nuclease sensitivity.

The nucleoprotein organization of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA during productive infection was analyzed using staphylococcal nuclease. Both prior to and during the genome replication phase of infection, digestion of nuclei revealed two readily discernible forms of viral DNA, resistant and sensitive. The identity of these forms was established by the use of a variety of assays, including velocity sedimentation, nucleic acid hybridization and restriction endonuclease digestion and by employing temperature sensitive (ts) mutants impaired in either DNA replication or encapsidation of progeny DNA. Thus, nuclease resistant DNA was derived from encapsidated unit length genomes while sensitive DNA represented digestion products of replicating viral genomes. Importantly, no evidence was obtained for the arrangement of either parental or progeny viral DNA in nucleosomes. These findings are discussed with regard to the nucleoprotein structure of replicating viral DNA.

Capsid↗

Differences in detection of DNA adducts in the 32P-postlabelling assay after either 1-butanol extraction or nuclease P1 treatment.

The use of nuclease P1 treatment and 1-butanol extraction to increase the sensitivity of the 32P-postlabelling assay for DNA adducts have been compared. Although similar results were obtained with the two methods for standard adducts formed with benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide I (BPDE-I), nuclease P1 treatment resulted in a significant reduction in detection of major adducts from 1-amino-6-nitropyrene (1-amino-6-NP), 1-amino-8-nitropyrene (1-amino-8-NP), 2-aminofluorene (2-AF), 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) and 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) modified DNAs, but not following the 32P-postlabelling analysis of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) modified DNA. These results suggest that, at least initially, both modifications of the 32P-postlabelling assay should be used for the detection of unknown adducts or for adducts derived from nitroaromatics and aromatic amines.

1-Butanol↗

A transcriptionally enriched chromatin fraction released by a Mg++ -dependent endogenous nuclease from rat liver.

When rat liver nuclei are subjected to endogenous nuclease digestion in the presence of 5 mM Mg++, they release a chromatin fraction containing DNA of well defined fragment lengths and DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. The DNA is enriched 4.4-fold for sequences complementary to cDNA prepared to cytoplasmic poly-A-containing RNA when compared with whole cell DNA. This method of obtaining a transcriptionally enriched chromatin fraction is compared with other reported nuclease methods.

Animals↗

Studies on the organization of the alpha-satellite DNA from African green monkey cells using restriction nucleases and molecular cloning.

alpha-Satellite DNA from African green monkey cells was analysed with restriction nucleases in some detail confirming and complementing our earlier results. With EcoRI and HaeIII (or BsuRI isoschizomer), about 25 and 10%, respectively, of the satellite DNA were cleaved into a series of fragments of the 172 bp repeat length and multiples thereof. To allow studies with fragments of homogeneous sequence unit length, HindIII fragments were covalently joined with the plasmid pBR 313. After transformation 19 clones were obtained, containing up to three monomer fragments. Nine of the clones were characterized by digestion with EcoRI. Three of these had cleavage sites for this nuclease in the satellite DNA portion. In the six clones tested with HaeIII no cleavage site was detected in the cloned DNA. The results are discussed in relation to the nucleotide sequence data recently published by Rosenberg et al. (1978) and in the context of random and nonrandom processes in satellite DNA evolution

Animals↗