PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Replication Origin”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

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

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Methylation is co-ordinated on the putative replication origins of Physarum ribosomal DNA.

In Physarum polycephalum, the ribosomal DNA is found as 60,000 base-pair palindromes. Each rDNA has four symmetrically arranged replication origins flanked by ribosomal RNA genes. A particular sequence, the putative replication origin, is repeated at the approximate position of each origin and nowhere else in the molecule. On a typical rDNA molecule, only one origin is active per replication cycle. We show that both the level and co-ordination of methylation result in asymmetrically methylated rDNA molecules that are particularly hypomethylated at one of their four putative replication origins. This pattern of methylation on a typical rDNA molecule is consistent with a model where hypomethylation is a determinant of origin activity.

Cell Cycle↗

Replication origin region of Bacillus subtilis chromosome contains two rRNA operons.

The first replicating DNA fragment (BamHI-7) of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome contains two promoters for a rRNA operon. A map of restriction enzyme cleavage sites of the region of replication origin suggests the presence of a second rRNA operon in this region. Hybridization of rRNA genes (rDNA) with DNA fragments derived from the origin region by treatment with various enzymes clearly revealed two rRNA operons in this region, one at the B7-B3 junction and the other at the B5-B6 junction. The restriction enzyme cleavage sites surrounding the rRNA operons show that the operon at the B5-B6 junction corresponds to the rrnA operon. A novel operon at the B7-B3 junction was termed rrnO. Transformation by density-labeled fragments of the origin region showed that the first replicating marker, guaA, is located in the B3 fragment. From these results, a map was constructed for the first time to correlate the genetic markers with the physical structure of the replication origin region of the B. subtilis chromosome. The role of the rrnO operon in regulating the initiation of chromosomal replication is discussed, based on the fact that the promoter of the rrnO operon suppresses the replication of the plasmid carrying the promoter.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Stimulation of DNA synthesis by mouse DNA helicase B in a DNA replication system containing eukaryotic replication origins.

A number of DNA helicases have been isolated from mammalian cells, but their abilities to stimulate DNA replication accompanied with DNA unwinding have not been addressed so far. We constructed a model DNA replication system using the yeast autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) as the replication origin. In this system, SV40 T antigen as a DNA helicase assembles to the replication origin where the DNA duplex is unwound by torsional stress due to the negative supercoiling of template DNA, which leads to bidirectional DNA replication from the origin. We report here that DNA helicase B isolated from mouse FM3A cells can greatly stimulate DNA synthesis in this replication system in place of SV40 T antigen. DNA synthesis was dependent on the presence of single-stranded DNA binding protein (RP-A), DNA polymerase alpha/primase from mouse cells, and Escherichia coli DNA gyrase. DNA gyrase was required not only at elongation as a DNA swivelase but also at initiation to increase negative superhelical density of template DNA with the assistance of RP-A. A mammalian DNA fragment containing a replication initiation zone upstream of the c-myc gene as well as the yeast ARS fragment acted as a cis-element in this system using DNA helicase B. Both DNA helicase B and SV40 T antigen have the ability to extensively unwind the template DNA in the presence of RP-A and DNA gyrase, which may be crucial for stimulation of DNA synthesis in this system.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Association of autonomous replication activity with replication origins in a human chromosome.

A systematic analysis of the correlation of autonomous replication activity with initiation of replication in a human chromosome was performed. The temporal order of replication of segments in a pericentric 320-kb MEN203 locus on human chromosome 10 (10q11.2) was determined by pulse-labeling of cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine after synchronization with aphidicolin. The entire MEN203 locus replicated during the late S phase. Two distinct segments replicated earlier than the others in the locus, indicating that replication was initiated within or near these segments. Two other segments also showed an earlier response than the respective neighboring regions. These results suggest that the MEN203 locus contains two distinct replication origins and two possible origins that may be used less frequently. The results were essentially confirmed by synchronization of the cell cycle with mimosine. Analysis of autonomous replication activity of 10-kb long chromosome fragments covering the 320-kb region showed that certain fragments replicated two or three times more efficiently than others. The results are consistent with our previous observations with randomly cloned human chromosome fragments. The replication origins colocalized with fragments exhibiting relatively high autonomous replication activity. Thus, the capacity for autonomous replication of chromosome fragments might be prerequisite for the initiation of chromosomal replication.

Aphidicolin↗

In vivo interactions of archaeal Cdc6/Orc1 and minichromosome maintenance proteins with the replication origin.

Although genome analyses have suggested parallels between archaeal and eukaryotic replication systems, little is known about the DNA replication mechanism in Archaea. By two-dimensional gel electrophoreses we positioned a replication origin (oriC) within 1 kb in the chromosomal DNA of Pyrococcus abyssi, an anaerobic hyperthermophile, and demonstrated that the oriC is physically linked to the cdc6 gene. Our chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that P. abyssi Cdc6 and minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins bind preferentially to the oriC region in the exponentially growing cells. Whereas the oriC association of MCM was specifically inhibited by stopping DNA replication with puromycin treatment, Cdc6 protein stayed bound to the replication origin after de novo protein synthesis was inhibited. Our data suggest that archaeal and eukaryotic Cdc6 and MCM proteins function similarly in replication initiation and imply that an oriC association of MCM could be regulated by an unknown mechanism in Archaea.

Base Sequence↗

The simian virus 40 T antigen double hexamer assembles around the DNA at the replication origin.

An initial step in the replication of simian virus (SV40) DNA is the ATP-dependent formation of a double hexamer of the SV40 large tumor (T) antigen at the SV40 DNA replication origin. In the absence of DNA, T antigen assembled into hexamers in the presence of magnesium and ATP. Hexameric T antigen was stable and could be isolated by glycerol gradient centrifugation. The ATPase activities of hexameric and monomeric T antigen isolated from parallel glycerol gradients were identical. However, while monomeric T antigen was active in the ATP-dependent binding, untwisting, unwinding, and replication of SV40 origin-containing DNA, hexameric T antigen was inactive in these reactions. Isolated hexamers incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of ATP remained intact, but dissociated into monomers when incubated at 37 degrees C in the absence of ATP. This dissociation restored the activity of these preparations in the DNA replication reaction, indicating that hexameric T antigen is not permanently inactivated but merely assembled into a nonproductive structure. We propose that the two hexamers of T antigen at the SV40 origin assemble around the DNA from monomer T antigen in solution. This complex untwists the DNA at the origin, melting specific DNA sequences. The resulting single-stranded regions may be utilized by the T antigen helicase activity to initiate DNA unwinding bidirectionally from the origin.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Differential DNA replication origin activities in human normal skin fibroblast and HeLa cell lines.

A modification of the extrusion method for the isolation of nascent DNA from mammalian cells and a PCR-based assay has been used in order to compare the in vivo activities of DNA replication origins in different cell lines. Conventional PCR was firstly applied to detect the chromosomal activities of several known (origins associated with c-myc, hsp70, beta-globin, immunoglobulin mu-chain enhancer) and putative DNA replication origins (autonomously replicating sequences obtained from enriched libraries of human origins of DNA replication from normal and transformed cells) in four human cell lines (HeLa, NSF, WI-38 and SK-MG-1). Then, in nascent DNA samples from normal skin fibroblast (NSF) and HeLa cells, abundance of DNA sequences in the regions of five of these origins was determined by competitive PCR. Our results suggest that autonomously replicating sequences NOA3, S14, S3 and F15 are associated with functional chromosomal origins of replication. Quantitative comparison of origin activities demonstrates that origins associated with c-myc and NOA3 are approximately twice as active in HeLa cells as in NSF cells. The described approach can facilitate the identification of origins which may be differentially active in normal cells and transformed cells or in different cell types.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

Large, complex modular structure of a fission yeast DNA replication origin.

BACKGROUND: In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, each DNA replication origin is associated with an autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) element. Each element contains several modules, including an essential close match to the 11 base-pair (bp) ARS consensus sequence (ACS) and two or three short (< 20 bp) stimulatory motifs, within a stretch of approximately 150 bp or less. To determine whether a similar origin structure exists in the evolutionarily distant fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we used deletion and linker substitution scanning to identify the sequences important for the function of ars3002, a chromosomal replication origin. RESULTS: We detected two large (30-55 bp) essential regions and several additional stimulatory sequences within a 600 bp stretch of a restriction fragment containing ars3002. The two essential regions are similar to each other, and sequences similar to them are found in all known S. pombe ARS elements, suggesting that one or both of them may represent the S. pombe equivalent of the S. cerevisiae ACS. CONCLUSIONS: Like S. cerevisiae origins, the S. pombe origin, ars3002, possesses a modular structure, but the number and size of modules is greater for ars3002, and ars3002 is larger than S. cerevisiae origins. These observations suggest that origin function in S. pombe requires more protein-DNA interactions than in S. cerevisiae.

Base Sequence↗

Characterization of a defective phage system for the analysis of bacteriophage T4 DNA replication origins.

We have developed a defective phage system for the isolation and analysis of phage T4 replication origins based on the T4-mediated transduction of plasmid pBR322. During the initial infection of a plasmid-containing cell, recombinant plasmids with T4 DNA inserts are converted into fully modified linear DNA concatamers that are packaged into T4 phage particles, to create defective phage (transducing particles). In order to select T4 replication origins from genomic libraries of T4 sequences cloned into the plasmid pBR322, we searched for recombinant plasmids that transduce with an unusually high efficiency, reasoning that this should select for T4 sequences that function as origins on plasmid DNA after phage infection. We also selected for defective phage that can propagate efficiently with the aid of a coinfecting helper phage during subsequent rounds of phage infection, which should select for T4 sequences that can function as origins on the linear DNA present in the defective phage. Several T4 inserts were isolated repeatedly in one or both of these selective procedures, and these were mapped to particular locations on the T4 genome. When plasmids were selected in this way from genomic libraries constructed using different restriction nucleases, they contained overlapping segments of the T4 genome, indicating that the same T4 sequences were selected. The inserts in two of the selected plasmids permit a very high frequency of transduction from circular plasmids; these have been shown to contain a special type of T4 replication origin.

DNA Replication↗

Enhanced flexibility and aphidicolin-induced DNA breaks near mammalian replication origins: implications for replicon mapping and chromosome fragility.

Common fragile sites are chromosomal loci prone to breakage and rearrangement that can be induced by aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA polymerases. Within these loci, sites of preferential DNA breaks were proposed to correlate with peaks of enhanced DNA flexibility, the function of which remains elusive. Here we show that mammalian DNA replication origins are enriched in peaks of enhanced flexibility. This finding suggests that the search for these features may help in the mapping of replication origins, and we present evidence supporting this hypothesis. The association of peaks of flexibility with replication origins also suggests that some origins may associate with minor levels of fragility. As shown here, an increased sensitivity to aphidicolin was found near two mammalian DNA replication origins.

Animals↗

A defective phage system reveals bacteriophage T4 replication origins that coincide with recombination hot spots.

Plasmid transduction mediated by bacteriophage T4 has been used to study putative T4 DNA replication origins cloned as inserts in the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322. Two particular inserts from the T4 genome allow high-frequency plasmid transduction, suggesting that each insert might contain a T4 replication origin. T4 infection of these plasmid-containing cells produces large numbers of defective phage particles that contain long linear concatamers of the plasmid DNA. During a second cycle of infection, these defective phage genomes can be replicated better than normal phage chromosomes present in the same infected cell; consequently, the T4 DNA inserts must be functioning as replication origins. Both of these origins appear to utilize a previously unrecognized mode of T4 replication initiation. Moreover, each origin coincides with a major recombination hot spot in the phage genome, and therefore this mode of replication initiation seems to involve a local stimulation of homologous genetic recombination. From a purely practical standpoint, additional DNA fragments can be cloned in an origin-containing plasmid, allowing isolation of large amounts of any DNA sequence with the glucosylated hydroxymethylcytosine modifications of T4 DNA.

DNA Replication↗

Binding of purified wild-type and mutant pi initiation proteins to a replication origin region of plasmid R6K.

The three replication origins of the antibiotic resistance plasmid R6K require for their activity in Escherichia coli a DNA segment containing seven 22 base-pair direct repeats and a plasmid-encoded initiation protein (pi). The pi protein functions in the negative control of R6K replication, in addition to its requirement for the initiation of replication. Construction of a plasmid containing the pi structural gene (pir) downstream from the inducible pR promoter of bacteriophage lambda provided high levels of production of pi protein in E. coli. The pi protein was purified and shown to possess general DNA binding properties with a preference for DNA fragments containing the gamma origin of replication, the operator region of the pir gene and the R6K beta-origin region. Velocity sedimentation analysis indicates that the pi protein exists as a dimer in its native form. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis of pi-gamma-origin complexes suggests that one pi dimer binds to each copy of the 22 base-pair direct repeats in the gamma origin region. Purified mutant pi protein obtained from a temperature-sensitive initiation mutant (pir 105-ts) exhibited temperature-sensitive binding activity to the gamma-origin region, whereas two mutant proteins exhibiting a high copy number phenotype were unaltered (pir104-cop) or slightly reduced (pir1-cop) in binding activity. The patterns of DNase I protection and enhancement were similar for the wild-type and mutant proteins examined.

Binding Sites↗

Dissection of the core and auxiliary sequences in the vegetative replication origin of promiscuous plasmid RK2.

The vegetative replication origin (oriV) of promiscuous IncP plasmid RK2 can function in many Gram-negative bacterial species when supplied with the plasmid-encoded replication protein TrfA and host-encoded replication proteins including DnaA. Nine TrfA binding sites (iterons) are known, and also two DnaA binding sites, box 1, between TrfA iterons 4 and 5, and box 2, downstream of repeat 9. The deletion analysis presented here shows that the core oriV requires DnaA box 1 for function in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida. This DnA box is not essential in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, although its deletion does reduce plasmid copy number in this species. A putative IHF binding site is located upstream of DnaA box 1, but IHF deficiency in E. coli seems not to alter replication efficiency or copy number control. Cloned oriV can interfere with maintenance of an independent RK2 replicon. Analysis of replication inhibition functions associated with oriV showed that a short putative orf between TrfA iterons 1 and 2 is not necessary for replication inhibition, the presence of repeats 5 to 9 in target and inhibitor plasmid are not sufficient for efficient inhibition and inhibition does not correlate directly with the number of direct repeats present. Rather, the results showed that the isolated repeats 1 and 2 to 4, potentiate replication inhibition disproportionately to their effect on the number of TrfA binding sites. The results are consistent with the idea that repeats 1 to 4, arranged as a single copy and as an irregular group of three, potentiate the ability of the oriV region to form complexes which inhibit replication. We suggest that TrfA bound at these iterons may be more susceptible to forming pairs between oriV sequences on different plasmids.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Xrep, a plasmid-stimulating X chromosomal sequence bearing similarities to the BK virus replication origin and viral enhancers.

The human X chromosome-linked fragment, "Xrep," was sequenced because it exerts a positive effect on plasmid growth in both E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The sequence revealed three features similar to the human BK virus replication origin: Xrep has a true palindrome, CCTCC(T)3CCTCC, which is similar to "true" palindrome-like sequences found at the replication origins of polyoma [CCTC(T/C)10CTCC], BK [CCTC(A/G)8CCTCC] and SV40 [CCTCC(A)6GCCTCC] viruses. Twenty nucleotides away from the true palindrome, Xrep has the sequence GAATCCTATTCACTTTT while BK virus, the human analogue of SV40, has GAAATCCCTATTCTTTT in exactly the same position relative to the true palindrome. These two 17-mers differ only in the positions of two nucleotides comparing Xrep and BK virus. Also similar to the replication origins of DNA viruses, Xrep appears to have a cluster of enhancers adjacent to the origin-like sequences. Potent enhancer-like activity was detected in pSV1 X CAT/Xrep constructs. Xrep may originate from an endogenous virus, or from an X chromosomal replication origin.

Acetyltransferases↗

Cell cycle-specific changes in nucleoprotein complexes at a chromosomal replication origin.

Initiation of DNA synthesis is triggered by the binding of proteins to replication origins. However, little is known about the order in which specific proteins associate with origin sites during the cell cycle. We show that in cycling cells there are at least two different nucleoprotein complexes at oriC. A factor for inversion stimulation (FIS)-bound nucleoprotein complex, present throughout the majority of the cell cycle, switches to an integration host factor (IHF)-bound form as cells initiate DNA replication. Coincident with binding of IHF, initiator DnaA binds to its previously unoccupied R3 site. In stationary phase, a third nucleoprotein complex forms. FIS is absent and inactive oriC forms a nucleoprotein structure containing IHF that is not observed in cycling cells. We propose that interplay between FIS and IHF aids assembly of initiation nucleoprotein complexes during the cell cycle and blocks initiation at inappropriate times. This exchange of components at replication origins is reminiscent of switching between pre- and post-replicative chromatin states at yeast ARS1.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Localization of replication origins in pea chloroplast DNA.

The locations of the two replication origins in pea chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) have been mapped by electron microscopic analysis of restriction digests of supercoiled ctDNA cross-linked with trioxalen. Both origins of replication, identified as displacement loops (D-loops), were present in the 44-kilobase-pair (kbp) SalI A fragment. The first D-loop was located at 9.0 kbp from the closest SalI restriction site. The average size of this D-loop was about 0.7 kbp. The second D-loop started 14.2 kbp in from the same restriction site and ended at about 15.5 kbp, giving it a size of about 1.3 kbp. The orientation of these two D-loops on the restriction map of pea ctDNA was determined by analyzing SmaI, PstI, and SalI-SmaI restriction digests of pea ctDNA. One D-loop has been mapped in the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes. The second D-loop was located downstream of the 23S rRNA gene. Denaturation mapping of recombinants pCP 12-7 and pCB 1-12, which contain both D-loops, confirmed the location of the D-loops in the restriction map of pea ctDNA. Denaturation-mapping studies also showed that the two D-loops had different base compositions; the one closest to a SalI restriction site denatured readily compared with the other D-loop. The recombinants pCP 12-7 and pCB 1-12 were found to be highly active in DNA synthesis when used as templates in a partially purified replication system from pea chloroplasts. Analysis of in vitro-synthesized DNA with either of these recombinants showed that full-length template DNA was synthesized. Recombinants from other regions of the pea chloroplast genome showed no significant DNA synthesis activity in vitro.

Chloroplasts↗

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

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

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Conservation of genes and their organization in the chromosomal replication origin region of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

The organization of six open reading frames which were deduced from the nucleotide sequence of some 10 kb from the replication origin region of Bacillus subtilis resembles the organization of the genes in the rnpA-dnaA-gyrB region of the Escherichia coli chromosome. Based on the detection of homology with the E. coli genes the open reading frames were found to represent the Bacillus 'rnpA', 'rpmH', 'dnaA', 'dnaN', recF and gyrB genes. Only the latter two have also been defined by genetic analysis. Two regulatory regions containing nine and four copies of a repeating sequence, DnaA-box, which is identical with the DnaA protein-binding sequence repeated four times in the E. coli origin of replication, flank the 'dnaA' gene of B. subtilis. One or both of them are proposed to function as origins in the initiation of chromosomal replication. Transcription of the 'dnaA' gene of Bacillus starts in one of these regions and appears to be coupled to initiation of chromosomal replication. We propose that the conserved gene organization in the 'dnaA'-'gyrB' region of B. subtilis is representative of the replication origin region of a primordial replicon. The oriC sequence of E. coli has either been translocated to its present location 44 kb away from the primordial origin or has independently evolved there.

Amino Acid Sequence↗