Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Replication Origin”

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 1,783 records · Page 99Linked to original sources

Molecular analysis of the replication elements of the broad-host-range RepA/C replicon.

RepA/C is a replicon specific to the IncA/C incompatibility group of plasmids and was isolated recently from plasmid RA1. The sequence of this autoreplicative region was established; it contains 13 repeats, suggesting that the replicon uses iterons to control its copy number. The sequence contains two ORFs, one potentially coding for a 33-kDa protein (ORF1) and a second potentially coding for a 14-kDa protein (ORF2) (Llanes et al., 1994b). In this work, using an in vitro transcription/translation system, we detected a polypeptide whose size corresponded well to that of the deduced product of ORF1. Deletion and insertion mutation analysis showed that ORF1 is essential for replication; it encodes an initiator protein (called RepA). ORF2 was not essential for replication in Escherichia coli and its function remains to be determined. Using complementation experiments, the replication origin (ori) of RepA/C was defined. The ori was located in a 600-bp fragment downstream from repA, containing 10 direct repeats. To study the control of repA expression, a transcriptional fusion PrepA::lacZ was constructed. Its analysis showed that repA is transcriptionally autoregulated as are most repA genes of replicons controlled by iterons.

Cloning, Molecular↗

The replication initiation protein of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 is activated by the ClpX chaperone.

Initiation and control of replication of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 requires two plasmid-encoded elements, the replication origin (oriV) and the initiation protein TrfA. Purified TrfA is largely in the form of a dimer; however, only the monomeric form of the protein can bind specifically to the direct repeats (iterons) at the RK2 origin. The largely dimeric form of wild-type TrfA is inactive in the initiation of replication of RK2 in an in vitro replication system reconstituted from purified components. However, preincubation of the TrfA protein with the ClpX molecular chaperone isolated from Escherichia coli activates the initiator protein for replication in the purified system. We further observed that ClpX, in an ATP-dependent reaction, greatly increases the proportion of TrfA monomers and, therefore, the ability of this protein to bind to iterons localized within RK2 origin. Finally, a copy-up mutant of the TrfA protein which is largely in the monomer form is active in the reconstituted in vitro replication system, and its activity is not affected by ClpX.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗

Evolution of mitochondrial DNA in yeast: gene order and structural organization of the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces uvarum.

We have determined the size, the restriction map and the gene order of the mitochondrial genome of the yeast Saccharomyces uvarum. Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial COXII gene confirmed the position of this yeast in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae-like group, near Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces douglasii. Most mitochondrial genes have been positioned on this approximately 57-kb long genome and three regions containing putative replication origins have been identified. The gene order of S. uvarum suggests that the mitochondrial genome of the S.cerevisiae-like yeasts could have evolved from an ancestral molecule, similar to that of S. uvarum, through specific genome rearrangements.

Cytosine↗

Functional analysis of the dna (Ts) mutants of Bacillus subtilis: plasmid pUB110 replication as a model system.

We determined the effect of various Bacillus subtilis dna(Ts) mutations on pUB110 and chromosomal replication. Leading strand DNA synthesis of pUB110, starting by a nick at the plasmid replication origin (oriU), is performed by DNA polymerase III, since replication is blocked at non-permissive temperature in thermosensitive mutants dnaD, dnaF, dnaH and dnaN known to cause thermosensitivity of the various subunits of DNA polymerase III. When the lagging strand origin (oriL) is exposed, the DnaG protein (DNA primase) alone, or in association with unknown protein(s) binds asymmetrically to oriL to form a primer that is also extended by DNA polymerase III. In oriL- plasmids like pBT32, leading and lagging strand DNA syntheses are decoupled from each other. The DnaB protein, that is not required for pUB110 replication, may be associated with priming at a second unidentified lagging strand origin on pBT32. At non-permissive temperature, the dnaC30 and dnaI2 mutations affect both pUB110 and chromosomal DNA synthesis.

Bacillus subtilis↗

A packaging system for SV40 vectors without viral coding sequences.

SV40 vectors have been used as expression vectors for mammalian cells since the early 1980s. More recently, they have been used as gene transfer vectors in mice and in human peripheral blood cells. Here we described a system for packaging SV40 vectors without viral coding sequences. Recombinant adenovirus-expressing SV40 capsids can effectively package plasmids that contain the SV40 replication origin. The final yield of infectious SV40 vector is about 3 x 10(5), with a SV40 to adenoviral vector ratio of about 1000:1. Helper adenoviruses can be effectively heat-inactivated with no effect on the infectivity of SV40 vectors.

Adenoviridae↗

Architecture of the yeast origin recognition complex bound to origins of DNA replication.

In many organisms, the replication of DNA requires the binding of a protein called the initiator to DNA sites referred to as origins of replication. Analyses of multiple initiator proteins bound to their cognate origins have provided important insights into the mechanism by which DNA replication is initiated. To extend this level of analysis to the study of eukaryotic chromosomal replication, we have investigated the architecture of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae origin recognition complex (ORC) bound to yeast origins of replication. Determination of DNA residues important for ORC-origin association indicated that ORC interacts preferentially with one strand of the ARS1 origin of replication. DNA binding assays using ORC complexes lacking one of the six subunits demonstrated that the DNA binding domain of ORC requires the coordinate action of five of the six ORC subunits. Protein-DNA cross-linking studies suggested that recognition of origin sequences is mediated primarily by two different groups of ORC subunits that make sequence-specific contacts with two distinct regions of the DNA. Implications of these findings for ORC function and the mechanism of initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication are discussed.

Animals↗

Strand switching during rolling circle replication of plasmid-like DNA circles in the mitochondria of the higher plant Chenopodium album (L.).

The structure of sigma-like mitochondrial DNA molecules prepared from suspension cultured cells of Chenopodium album (L.) was studied by electron microscopy. These molecules were highly variable in size, ranging from about 1 to 104 kb, and had single- and double-stranded regions typical for rolling circle replicating intermediates. Partial denaturation studies confirmed that these structures constitute rolling circles. Close inspection of the circle-tail junctions of the replication fork at high magnification suggests that in circles with a double-stranded tail, both strands of the tail seem to be covalently attached to the circle in about 27% of the molecules. This observation can be explained by a phenomenon called strand switching or strand splippage during rolling circle replication, similar to a mechanism proposed for bacterial replicons or in vitro replicating constructs harboring bacteriophage T4 replication origins.

Chenopodiaceae↗

Activation of polyomavirus DNA replication by yeast GAL4 is dependent on its transcriptional activation domains.

The polyomavirus replication origin contains transcriptional regulatory sequences. To determine how these elements function in DNA replication, and to learn whether a common mechanism underlies the activation of transcription and DNA replication, we tested whether a well-characterized transcriptional activator, yeast GAL4, was capable of stimulating DNA replication and transcription in the same mammalian cell line. We observed that GAL4 activated polyomavirus DNA replication in mouse cells when its binding site was juxtaposed to the late border of the polyomavirus origin core. Synergistic activation of DNA replication was achieved by multimerization of the GAL4 binding site. Analysis of GAL4 mutant proteins, GAL4 hybrid proteins and mutants of the latter revealed that the activation domains of these transcriptional activators were required to stimulate DNA replication. In agreement with previously published data, the activation domains of GAL4 were also required to enhance transcription in the same mouse cell line. These observations implicate transcriptional activators in Py DNA replication and suggest that similar mechanisms govern the activation of transcription and DNA replication.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of RepHI1B, a replicon specific to IncHI1 plasmids.

RepHI1B is one of the replicons that is specific to IncHI1 multireplicon plasmids. Its general organization resembles that of several replicons that control their copy number by an iteron mechanism. The RepHI1B replicon (2.4 kb) contains: (i) an 882 bp repA gene coding for a 32 kDa replication protein (RepA), sharing significant similarity with the initiator proteins of other replicons belonging to various incompatibility (Inc) groups, including P1 (IncY), Rts1 (IncT), RepFIB (IncFI), and RepHI1A (IncHI1); (ii) two sets of 17 bp DNA repeats (iterons), one upstream and one downstream from repA. By complementation testing, we identified the replication origin (ori) of RepHI1B in a 223 bp locus upstream from repA. By primer extension we mapped two promoters of repA (Pr1 and Pr2) in the ori sequence. We used repA::lacZ transcriptional fusions to study regulation of the repA gene. This analysis showed that repA is transcriptionally autoregulated. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that RepA binds specifically to the origin and to iterons overlapping the Pr1 and Pr2 promoters. A G to A transition at nucleotide position 13 of the iteron located in Pr2 (repeat 5) drastically decreases autoregulation of repA by inhibiting binding of RepA.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Rearrangements of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): new insights into the regulation of mtDNA copy number and gene expression.

Mitochondria from patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome harboring large-scale rearrangements of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; both partial deletions and a partial duplication) were introduced into human cells lacking endogenous mtDNA. Cytoplasmic hybrids containing 100% wild-type mtDNA, 100% mtDNA with partial duplications, and 100% mtDNA with partial deletions were isolated and characterized. The cell lines with 100% deleted mtDNAs exhibited a complete impairment of respiratory chain function and oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, there were no detectable respiratory chain or protein synthesis defects in the cell lines with 100% duplicated mtDNAs. Unexpectedly, the mass of mtDNA was identical in all cell lines, despite the fact that different lines contained mtDNAs of vastly different sizes and with different numbers of replication origins, suggesting that mtDNA copy number may be regulated by tightly controlled mitochondrial dNTP pools. In addition, quantitation of mtDNA-encoded RNAs and polypeptides in these lines provided evidence that mtDNA gene copy number affects gene expression, which, in turn, is regulated at both the post-transcriptional and translational levels.

Cell Division↗

Designing of plant artificial chromosome (PAC) by using the Chlorella smallest chromosome as a model system.

As a model for plant-type chromosomes, we have been characterizing molecular organization of the Chlorella vulgaris C-169 chromosome I. To identify chromosome structural elements including the centromeric region and replication origins, we constructed a chromosome I specific cosmid library and aligned each cosmid clones to generate contigs. So far, more than 80% of the entire chromosome I has been covered. A complete clonal physical reconstitution of chromosome I provides information on the structure and genomic organization of plant genome. We propose our strategy to construct an artificial chromosome by assembling the functional chromosome structural elements identified on Chrorella chromosome I.

Centromere↗

Mobilization of "nonmobilizable" plasmids by the aggregation-mediated conjugation system of Bacillus thuringiensis.

The aggregation-mediated conjugation system of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp, israelensis (Bti), encoded by the 200-kb plasmid pXO16, is highly potent in transferring itself and efficient in mobilizing other nonconjugative plasmids. In the present study we have analyzed the native Bacillus cereus plasmid pBC16. This plasmid has previously been shown to harbor a mob gene (ORF beta) and a locus functioning as an oriT site in plasmid pLS20-mediated conjugation in Bacillus subtilis. However, in the conjugation system of Bti we found that a derivative of pBC16 deleted for both these loci was mobilizable, although at a reduced frequency. Another derivative of pBC16, containing a deletion spanning the first half of the coding region of the mob gene, was found to be nearly as mobilizable as the intact pBC16, suggesting its dispensability in the transfer process. Other plasmids based on the theta-replicating origins, pAM beta 1, pLS20, ori43, ori44, and ori60, were also consistently mobilized in the conjugation system encoded by Bti plasmid pXO16. Analyzing the conjugation process by the use of scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of connections between cells in the mating mixtures. These connections did not appear in monocultures of the donor strain or the recipient strain and may be conjugational junctions.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

Combining two genomes in one cell: stable cloning of the Synechocystis PCC6803 genome in the Bacillus subtilis 168 genome.

Cloning the whole 3.5-megabase (Mb) genome of the photosynthetic bacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 into the 4.2-Mb genome of the mesophilic bacterium Bacillus subtilis 168 resulted in a 7.7-Mb composite genome. We succeeded in such unprecedented large-size cloning by progressively assembling and editing contiguous DNA regions that cover the entire Synechocystis genome. The strain containing the two sets of genome grew only in the B. subtilis culture medium where all of the cloning procedures were carried out. The high structural stability of the cloned Synechocystis genome was closely associated with the symmetry of the bacterial genome structure of the DNA replication origin (oriC) and its termination (terC) and the exclusivity of Synechocystis ribosomal RNA operon genes (rrnA and rrnB). Given the significant diversity in genome structure observed upon horizontal DNA transfer in nature, our stable laboratory-generated composite genome raised fundamental questions concerning two complete genomes in one cell. Our megasize DNA cloning method, designated megacloning, may be generally applicable to other genomes or genome loci of free-living organisms.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Unidirectional theta replication of the structurally stable Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAM beta 1.

Numerous bacterial replicons remain poorly characterized due to difficulties in localization of the replication origin. We have circumvented this problem in the characterization and fine mapping of the origin of plasmid pAM beta 1 by exploiting the Bacillus subtilis termination signal, terC. In terC-containing derivatives, theta-form molecules with two invariant endpoints accumulate. The endpoints, which correspond to plasmid origin and terC, were mapped with single-nucleotide precision. Analysis of the replication intermediates of wild-type molecules by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis confirmed the location of the plasmid origin. Our results demonstrate that pAM beta 1 replication proceeds unidirectionally by a theta mechanism. This work confirms the use of termination signals to localize origins, suggests that termination in B. subtilis occurs by a mechanism similar to that of Escherichia coli and establishes that in addition to rolling circle replicating plasmids, Gram positive bacteria harbour plasmids which replicate by a theta mechanism.

Base Sequence↗

The interaction domains of the DnaA and DnaB replication proteins of Escherichia coli.

The initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli requires the recruitment of the replicative helicase DnaB from the DnaBC complex to the unwound region within the replication origin oriC, supported by the oriC-bound initiator protein DnaA. We defined physical contacts between DnaA and DnaB that involve residues 24-86 and 130-148 of DnaA and residues 154-210 and 1-156 of DnaB respectively. We propose that contacts between DnaA and DnaB occur via two interaction sites on each of the proteins. Interaction domain 24-86 of DnaA overlaps with its N-terminal homo-oligomerization domain (residues 1-86). Interaction domain 154-210 of DnaB overlaps or is contiguous with the domains known to interact with plasmid initiator proteins. Loading of the DnaBC helicase in vivo can only be performed by DnaA derivatives containing (in addition to residues 24-86 and the DNA-binding domain 4) a structurally intact domain 3. Nucleotide binding by domain 3 is, however, not required. The parts of DnaA required for replication of pSC101 were clearly different from those used for helicase loading. Domains 1 and 4 of DnaA, but not domain 3, were found to be involved in the maintenance of plasmid pSC101.

Bacterial Proteins↗

In vitro isolation, propagation, and characterization of duck hepatitis virus type III.

The in vitro isolation, propagation, and characterization of duck hepatitis virus Type III (DHV-III), is described. This virus, which is serologically distinct from the classical (Type I) DHV, replicated in liver and kidney cell cultures of duck origin. Replication was limited in chicken and quail kidney and duck embryo fibroblast cultures. It did not replicate in a variety of other cell cultures of avian or mammalian origin. The virus was grown successfully in embryonating eggs of ducks, but not of chickens. DHV-III passed through a 50-nm membrane filter, was stable at pH 3.0 and resisted treatment with 5% chloroform. Virus growth was not inhibited by treatment with 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine. Electron-microscope examination revealed crystalline arrays in the cytoplasm; virus particles had cubic symmetry, and were about 30 nm in diameter. By these properties, this virus can be classified as a member of the picornavirus group.

Animals↗

Versatile use of oriC plasmids for functional genomics of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum.

Replicative oriC plasmids were recently developed for several mollicutes, including three Mycoplasma species belonging to the mycoides cluster that are responsible for bovine and caprine diseases: Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small-colony type, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides large-colony type, and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum. In this study, oriC plasmids were evaluated in M. capricolum subsp. capricolum as genetic tools for (i) expression of heterologous proteins and (ii) gene inactivation by homologous recombination. The reporter gene lacZ, encoding beta-galactosidase, and the gene encoding spiralin, an abundant surface lipoprotein of the related mollicute Spiroplasma citri, were successfully expressed. Functional Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase was detected in transformed Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum cells despite noticeable codon usage differences. The expression of spiralin in M. capricolum subsp. capricolum was assessed by colony and Western blotting. Accessibility of this protein at the cell surface and its partition into the Triton X-114 detergent phase suggest a correct maturation of the spiralin precursor. The expression of a heterologous lipoprotein in a mycoplasma raises potentially interesting applications, e.g., the use of these bacteria as live vaccines. Targeted inactivation of gene lppA encoding lipoprotein A was achieved in M. capricolum subsp. capricolum with plasmids harboring a replication origin derived from S. citri. Our results suggest that the selection of the infrequent events of homologous recombination could be enhanced by the use of oriC plasmids derived from related mollicute species. Mycoplasma gene inactivation opens the way to functional genomics in a group of bacteria for which a large wealth of genome data are already available and steadily growing.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Episomal maintenance of plasmids with hybrid origins in mouse cells.

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus 8 genomes are stably maintained as episomes in dividing host cells during latent infection. The mitotic segregation/partitioning function of these episomes is dependent on single viral protein with specific DNA-binding activity and its multimeric binding sites in the viral genome. In this study we show that, in the presence of all essential viral trans factors, the segregation/partitioning elements from both BPV1 and EBV can provide the stable maintenance function to the mouse polyomavirus (PyV) core origin plasmids but fail to do so in the case of complete PyV origin. Our study is the first which follows BPV1 E2- and minichromosome maintenance element (MME)-dependent stable maintenance function with heterologous replication origins. In mouse fibroblast cell lines expressing PyV large T antigen (LT) and either BPV1 E2 or EBV EBNA1, the long-term episomal replication of plasmids carrying the PyV minimal origin together with the MME or family of repeats (FR) element can be monitored easily for 1 month under nonselective conditions. Our data demonstrate clearly that the PyV LT-dependent replication function and the segregation/partitioning function of the BPV1 or EBV are compatible in certain, but not all, configurations. The quantitative analysis indicates a loss rate of 6% per cell, doubling in the case of MME-dependent plasmids, and 13% in the case of FR-dependent plasmids in nonselective conditions. Our data clearly indicate that maintenance functions from different viruses are principally interexchangeable and can provide a segregation/partitioning function to different heterologous origins in a variety of cells.

Animals↗