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Age-related DNA fragmentation in two varieties of Drosophila melanogaster, Phaseolus (cotyledons), and three tissues of the mouse.

Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that no age-related DNA fragmentation occurred in wild-type or vestigial wing Drosophila, or in DNA from mouse brain and heart. DNA from mouse liver possessed a large fragment, estimated at 24 megadaltons, in all ages tested. Phaseolus cotyledon DNA possessed a fragment of approximately 3.5 megadaltons in both imbibed seeds and 12-day-old cotyledons. Thus, there appeared to be no age-related increase in the break-down of DNA into large fragments.

Aging↗

Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (Ape1) and its N-terminal truncated form (AN34) are involved in DNA fragmentation during apoptosis.

We previously isolated a 34-kDa nuclease (AN34) from apoptotic human leukemia cells. Here, we identify AN34 as an N-terminally truncated form of human AP endonuclease (Ape1) lacking residues 1-35 (delta35-Ape1). Although Ape1 has hitherto been considered specific for damaged DNA (specific to AP site), recombinant AN34 (delta35-Ape1) possesses significant endonuclease activity on undamaged (normal) DNA and in chromatin. AN34 also displays enhanced 3'-5' exonuclease activity. Caspase-3 activates AN34 in a cell-free system, although caspase-3 cannot cleave Ape1 directly in vitro. We also found that Ape1 itself preferentially cleaves damaged chromatin DNA isolated from cells treated with apoptotic stimuli and that silencing of Ape1 expression decreases apoptotic DNA fragmentation in DFF40/CAD-deficient cells. Thus, we propose that AN34 and Ape1 participate in the process of chromatin fragmentation during apoptosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accessibility of U1 RNA to base pairing with a single-stranded DNA fragment mimicking the intron extremities at the splice junction.

A DNA fragment containing a 16 nucleotide sequence mimicking the intron extremities of premessenger RNA aligned as proposed previously (1,2) in a model of splicing mechanism was prepared and used as a probe for accessibility of the 5' extremity of U1 RNA. Hybridization of U1 RNA to the probe under non denaturing conditions and digestion of the hybrid with RNase H revealed that the sequence of U1 RNA which is complementary to the extremities of introns is accessible to hybridization and to enzymes. Therefore, the configuration of isolated U1 RNA satisfies the criteria required for the alignment of introns and further enzymatic reactions of splicing.

Base Composition↗

High-efficiency ligation and recombination of DNA fragments by vertebrate cells.

DNA-mediated gene transfer (transfection) is used to introduce specific genes into vertebrate cells. Events soon after transfection were quantitatively analyzed by determining the infectivity of the DNA from an avian retrovirus and of mixtures of subgenomic fragments of this DNA. The limiting step of transfection with two DNA molecules is the uptake by a single cell of both DNA's in a biologically active state. Transfected cells mediate ligation and recombination of physically unlinked DNA's at nearly 100 percent efficiency.

Animals↗

[Synthesis of a DNA fragment containing dihydro-5,6 thymine].

The preparation of a pentadecanucleoside tetradecaphosphate containing the modified base 5,6-dihydrothymine (DHT) is reported herein. The synthesis was performed with a mixture of diastereoisomers (5R and 5S), obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of thymidine. The phosphorylated protected monomer was characterized by proton NMR and FAB mass spectrometry. It was introduced into the DNA fragment (poly dT) by the solid phase phosphotriester approach. After deprotection, the determination of the site of the modified base in the chain was made using different methods. The classical chemical sequencing method of Maxam and Gilbert showed no difference with respect to thymine moieties in the pentadecamer. To characterize the presence and the location of the modified base DHT, the 32P 5'-end labelled pentadecamer was heated in formic acid at 90 degrees C and length separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Electronic Impact mass spectrometry under pyrolytic conditions of the 15-mer showed that the modified base was present in the deprotected DNA fragment.

Base Sequence↗

Hairpin and duplex formation in DNA fragments CCAATTTTGG, CCAATTTTTTGG, and CCATTTTTGG: a proton NMR study.

Three DNA fragments, CCAATTTTGG (1), CCAATTTTTTGG (2), and CCATTTTTGG (3), were studied by proton NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solution. All these oligodeoxyribonucleotides contain common sequences at the 5' and 3' ends (5'-CCA and TGG-3'). 2 as well as 3 forms only hairpin structures with four unpaired thymidylyl units, four and three base pair stems, respectively, in neutral solution under low and high NaCl concentrations. At high salt concentration the oligomer 1 forms a duplex structure with -TT- internal loop. On the other hand, the same oligomer forms a stable hairpin structure at low salt and low strand concentrations at pH 7. The hairpin structure of 1 has a stem containing only three base pairs (CCA.TGG) and a loop containing four nucleotides (-ATTT-) that includes a dissociated A.T base pair. The two secondary structures of 1 coexist in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M NaCl, at pH 7. The equilibrium shifts to the hairpin side when the temperature is raised. The stabilities and base-stacking modes of all three oligonucleotides in two different structures are reported.

Base Sequence↗

Gene induction by gamma-irradiation leads to DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes.

An early event in death of interphase lymphocytes exposed in vivo or in vitro to low doses of gamma-irradiation is the degradation of DNA into nucleosome-sized fragments. Induction of fragmentation required RNA and protein synthesis because actinomycin D and cycloheximide, respectively, are able to inhibit DNA fragmentation in irradiated lymphocytes. Studies adding cycloheximide and actinomycin D at various times postirradiation suggest that once the metabolic process is initiated within an individual cell it proceeds to completion. The reversible RNA synthesis inhibitor, 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole inhibits DNA fragmentation in irradiated thymocytes. When this drug is removed after 6 hr, irradiated thymocytes proceed to fragment their DNA; this suggests that an inducing "signal" that is not simply mRNA persists within the irradiated cell for at least 6 hr after irradiation. In contrast to mitogen-activated T and B lymphoblasts, resting T and B cells show significant DNA fragmentation after exposure to 100 to 500 rad. At 2000 rad, all of the splenic subpopulations die rapidly via a different mechanism. By studying the mechanism of DNA fragmentation induced during the interphase death of lymphocytes, we hope to understand better the extreme sensitivity of resting lymphocytes to radiation and what may be the common final pathway of programmed cell death.

Animals↗

The type B receptor for tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediates DNA fragmentation in HL-60 and U937 cells and differentiation in HL-60 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) binds to two specific cell surface receptors, types A and B, which are both present on HL-60 and U937 cells, and induces monocytoid differentiation in HL-60 cells and early DNA fragmentation in HL-60 and U937 cells. To further define the receptors' roles, we studied how monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against each receptor affected TNF-induced cellular responses. HTR-9, an MoAb against the type B (low affinity, 55 Kd) receptor, reproduced all of these effects in a dose-dependent manner. UTR-1, an MoAb against the type A (high affinity, 75 Kd) receptor, had no effect in saturating doses, but supersaturating doses enhanced DNA fragmentation threefold. TNF and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) synergistically induced morphologic differentiation and monocytic antigen expression, while the antitype B receptor MoAb was synergistic for morphologic response, but not antigen expression. Our results indicate that (1) the type B receptor mediates some responses to TNF in HL-60 and U937 cells, (2) the type A receptor does not stimulate these responses, (3) the TNF molecule is not necessary for some of these actions, and (4) TNF-induced morphologic changes and surface antigen expression in HL-60 cells may be regulated by separate postreceptor pathways.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Nonreplicated DNA and DNA fragments in T4 r- bacteriophage particles: phenotypic mixing of a phage protein.

"Conservative phage" containing a genome derived from an infecting phage particle which has not undergone replication in the cell but nevertheless has become encapsulated and released in a normal phage particle, are found after infection of Escherichia coli with rII(-) or rI(-) mutants under conditions which result in rapid lysis. If such conservative phage are derived from a mixed infection with v(+) and v(1) phage, they display phenotypic mixing of the v gene product (an endonuclease carried in the phage particle). Populations of rI and rII mutant phage grown under conditions of rapid lysis include particles containing short DNA fragments. It is suggested that a "maturation defect", common to rI and rII mutants, but absent in rIII mutants, may account for the encapsulation of nonreplicated DNA as well as that of the DNA fragments.

Bacteriolysis↗

Synthetic 1,4-anthracenediones, which block nucleoside transport and induce DNA fragmentation, retain their cytotoxic efficacy in daunorubicin-resistant HL-60 cell lines.

Anthracene-1,4-dione and 6,7-dichloro-1,4-anthracenedione (code names AQ1 and AQ4, respectively) are cytostatic (IC50: 53 and 110 nM, respectively) and cytotoxic (IC50: 100 and 175 nM, respectively) in wild-type drug-sensitive HL-60-S tumor cells at day 4 in vitro. Therefore, the antitumor effects of these drugs were assessed and compared to those of daunorubicin (DAU) in HL-60-RV and HL-60-R8 tumor cells, which are, respectively, P-glycoprotein-positive and -negative multidrug-resistant (MDR) sublines. In contrast to DAU, which loses its cytostatic [resistance factors (RFs): 30.3-31.8] and cytotoxic (RFs: 48.8-58.1) activities in MDR sublines, AQ1 inhibits cell proliferation (RFs: 0.9-1.3) and cell viability (RFs: 1.4-1.6) as effectively in HL-60-RV and HL-60-R8 as in HL-60-S cells. Similarly, DAU decreases the rate of DNA synthesis less effectively in MDR sublines (RFs: 8.0-13.3) but AQ1 inhibits the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA to the same degree in HL-60-S as in HL-60-RV and HL-60-R8 cells (RFs: 0.9-1.1). In contrast to DAU, which is ineffective, the advantage of AQ1 is its ability to block the cellular transport of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides in HL-60-S cells, an effect which persists in the MDR sublines (RFs: 1.1). AQ4, which mimics to a lesser degree all the antitumor effects of AQ1, except the inhibition of adenosine transport, also retains its effectiveness in MDR sublines (RFs: 1.1-3.1). The peaks of DNA cleavage caused by DAU and AQ1 in HL-60-S cells shift to lower concentrations with increasing times of drug exposure but DAU loses most of its ability to induce DNA fragmentation in MDR sublines, whereas the levels of AQ1-induced DNA cleavage at 16 and 24 h are nearly equivalent in HL-60-S, HL-60-RV and HL-60-R8 cells. Because they not only mimic the antitumor effects of DAU in the nM range but also block nucleoside transport and remain effective in tumor cells that have developed different mechanisms of MDR, AQ1 and AQ4 analogs might be valuable to develop new means of polychemotherapy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Isolation of an autonomously replicating DNA fragment from the region of defective bacteriophage PBSX of Bacillus subtilis.

We have isolated a 5.4-kilobase fragment of Bacillus subtilis DNA that confers the ability to replicate upon a nonreplicative plasmid. The B. subtilis 168 EcoRI fragment was ligated into the chimeric plasmid pCs540, which contains a chloramphenicol resistance determinant from the Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pC194 and an HpaII fragment from the Escherichia coli plasmid, pSC101. A recE B. subtilis derivative, strain BD224, is capable of maintaining this DNA as an autonomously replicating plasmid. In rec+ recipients, chloramphenicol-resistant transformants do not contain free plasmid. The plasmid is integrated as demonstrated by alterations in the pattern of chromosomal restriction enzyme fragments to which the plasmid hybridizes. The site of plasmid integration was mapped by PBS1-mediated transduction to the metC-PBSX region. A strain was a deletion in the region of defective bacteriophage PBSX differs in the hybridization profile obtained by probing EcoRI digests with this cloned fragment. This same deletion mutant, though proficient in normal recombinational pathways, permits autonomous replication of the plasmid apparently owing to the lack of an homologous chromosomal region with which to recombine. We believe that, like E. coli. B. subtilis contains at least one DNA fragment capable of autonomous replication when liberated from its normally integrated chromosomal site and that this cloned DNA fragment comes from the region of defective bacteriophage PBSX.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Quantitation of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Quantitation of DNA fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is needed for the determination of target DNA in molecular biology. Capillary electrophoresis in entangled polymer solution coupled to laser-induced fluorescence detection was assessed as an alternative technique to conventional slab gel methods to monitor competitive PCR, which consists of amplifying an internal standard fragment under the same conditions as the target fragment. The fluorescence signal was generated either through end-labeling of the fragments using 5'-fluorescein-labeled primers or through intercalation of ethidium bromide along the double strand. It is shown that the more accurate and reliable results were obtained using this latter pathway.

Bacillus anthracis↗

"Thermal stability" maps for several double-stranded DNA fragments of known sequence.

The origin of cooperatively melting regions in DNA, which appear as fine structures in the optical melting profile, has been examined for DNA fragments of known base sequences from bacteriophages phiX174 and fd. Thermal stability maps, which indicate the states of base pairs along these DNA strands, were constructed within the established theoretical framework using the parameters which best reproduce the melting profiles obtained by high temperature resolution experiments. By comparing these stability maps with genetic maps, it was found that several cooperatively melting regions which span several hundred bases have some correlation with the gene locations.

Base Sequence↗

Endogenous endonuclease-induced DNA fragmentation: an early event in cell-mediated cytolysis.

Within minutes of exposure of target cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes, their nuclear DNA begins to be fragmented. This phenomenon precedes 51Cr release by at least an hour. DNA fragmentation occurs only when appropriately sensitized cytotoxic T cells are used and is not merely a result of cell death because killing of target cells by heating, freeze/thawing, or lysing with antibody and complement did not yield DNA fragments. Agarose gel electrophoresis of target cell DNA showed discrete multiples of an approximately 200-base-pair subunit, suggesting that fragmentation was the result of activation of a specific endonuclease. A similar pattern of DNA fragments is observed during glucocorticoid-induced killing of mouse thymocytes. The endonuclease in that case is inhibited by zinc ions, and we find that Zn2+ also inhibits DNA fragmentation and 51Cr release induced by cytotoxic T cells, suggesting a final common biochemical pathway for both types of cell death.

Animals↗

Nucleosomal DNA fragments in autoimmune diseases.

The inadequate response of immune cells to circulating apoptotic products, such as nucleosomal DNA fragments, is assumed to be a potent stimulus for the production of autoantibodies during the pathogenesis and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we analyzed the levels of circulating nucleosomes, caspases, and C-reactive protein in sera of 244 individuals with various autoimmune diseases (155 with autoimmune hepatic disorders, 25 with ANCA-associated vasculitis, and 64 with various connective tissue diseases), and 32 healthy controls. Nucleosomes and caspase activities were significantly elevated in sera of patients with hepatic autoimmune diseases, connective tissue diseases, and particularly in ANCA-associated vasculitis when compared with healthy individuals. Nucleosomes showed a correlation with caspases, and caspases with C-reactive protein, but nucleosomes did not correlate with C-reactive protein. Serum levels of the apoptotic products, nucleosomes, and caspases are increased in various autoimmune diseases but may not be solely responsible for antinucleosome antibody production in SLE patients. It remains to be clarified whether qualitative changes in nucleosomes are linked with pathogenesis and disease progression in SLE.

Apoptosis↗

Pairing of DNA fragments containing (GGA:TCC)n repeats and promotion by high mobility group protein 1 and histone H1.

Tandemly repeated DNA sequences of (GGA:TCC)n are found in tracts up to 50 base pairs long, dispersed at thousands of sites throughout the genomes of eukaryotes. Here we demonstrate the formation of complexes paired between two DNAs containing such repeats in vitro and show enhancement of the pairing by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of high mobility group protein 1 and histone H1. This assembly depends on incubation time at 37 degrees C and concentrations of the proteins and DNA, and the enhancement is inhibited by distamycin and actinomycin D interacting DNA through the minor groove. Structure of the DNA-DNA complex is deduced by comparison of its mobility in gel electrophoresis with those of synthetic markers of heterotetramers. Three synthetic and genomic DNA fragments containing repeats that have different arrangements exhibit different efficiencies of DNA pairing, implying that the pairing is affected by the number of repeat units and the arrangement of repeats in a sequence. Intriguingly, pairing occurs between homologous fragments but not between heterologous DNAs among the three. These results suggest that the repeat-mediated DNA pairing plays a role in organization of higher order architecture of chromatin and possibly chromosome segregation requiring sequence-specific association events of DNA molecules.

DNA Fragmentation↗

Nucleotide sequence of a reiterated rat DNA fragment.

A reiterated component of rat DNA was isolated by restriction with HindIII endonuclease and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sequence analysis revealed that the fragment was 179 nucleotides long. Unlike the known 370N reiterated rat DNA fragment which contained a high m5C content (2.7 mole%), this repetitive element contained a rather low m5C content (0.5 mole%). The present rat repetitive sequence appeared to be of alpha-type as shown by its significant homologies with alpha DNA sequences of African green monkey and human. The possibility of sequence heterogeneity is discussed.

Animals↗

In the presence of subunit A inhibitors DNA gyrase cleaves DNA fragments as short as 20 bp at specific sites.

A key step in the supercoiling reaction is the DNA gyrase-mediated cleavage and religation step of double-stranded DNA. Footprinting studies suggest that the DNA gyrase binding site is 100-150 bp long and that the DNA is wrapped around the enzyme with the cleavage site located near the center of the fragment. Subunit A inhibitors interrupt this cleavage and resealing cycle and result in cleavage occurring at preferred sites. We have been able to show that even a 30 bp DNA fragment containing a 20 bp preferred cleavage sequence from the pBR322 plasmid was a substrate for the DNA gyrase-mediated cleavage reaction in the presence of inhibitors. This DNA fragment was cleaved, although with reduced efficiency, at the same sites as a 122 bp DNA fragment. A 20 bp DNA fragment was cleaved with low efficiency at one of these sites and a 10 bp DNA fragment was no longer a substrate. We therefore propose that subunit A inhibitors interact with DNA at inhibitor-specific positions, thus determining cleavage sites by forming ternary complexes between DNA, inhibitors and DNA gyrase.

Benzimidazoles↗