Method for the characterization of size-exclusion chromatography media for preparative purification of DNA restriction fragments

A protocol has been developed to characterize the potential of size exclusion chromatography media for the separation of DNA fragments at a preparative scale. A standard DNA mixture composed of -DNA cut with the restriction enzymes, AluI and HaeIII, was chromatographed on a column packed with the gel of interest. Fractions were collected and examined by PAGE. A digitized image of the gel was analyzed with the aid of a computer software program to determine the DNA fractionation range and selectivity curve for each chromatography gel. Four gels were characterized using this protocol. The effect of the elution buffer ionic strength on the fractionation of DNA was also investigated.The US Government right to retain a non-exclusive royalty-freelicense in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

A simple method for filter hybridization of labeled restriction fragments excised from gels

Labeled DNA restriction fragments excised from agarose or bisacrylylcystamine-acrylamide gels can be used for hybridization to nitrocellulose-bound DNA without eliminating the gel matrix. A gel slice containing the labeled fragment is excised, dissolved by heating at 105 degrees C (in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol for bisacrylylcystamine-acrylamide gels), and added to the hybridization mixture. The presence of agarose or polyacrylamide in the solution does not inhibit hybridization. The method is simple, rapid, and allows complete recovery of the probe.     

A new specific DNA endonuclease activity in yeast mitochondria

Summary Two group I intron-encoded proteins from the yeast mitochondrial genome have already been shown to have a specific DNA endonuclease activity. This activity mediates intron insertion by cleaving the DNA sequence corresponding to the splice junction of an intronless strain. We have discovered in mitochondrial extracts from the yeast strain 777-3A a new DNA endonuclease activity which cleaves the fused exon A3-exon A4 junction sequence of the COXI gene.     

Mapping the order of DNA restriction fragments

A straightforward method was designed for mapping the order of DNA restriction fragments obtained by a double and two single digestions, without the necessity of using a computer or a radioactive label. All possible solutions compatible with a pre-set level of error in the determination of sequence lengths are obtained. The primary assumptions are given, and the appropriate modifications of the algorithm are presented as a function of any assumptions one is unable (or unwilling) to make. Use of the method in connection with end-labeled fragments is also described.     

An automated sample preparation system with mini-reactor to isolate and process submegabase fragments of bacterial DNA

Existing methods for extraction and processing of large fragments of bacterial genomic DNA are manual, time-consuming, and prone to variability in DNA quality and recovery. To solve these problems, we have designed and built an automated fluidic system with a mini-reactor. Balancing flows through and tangential to the ultrafiltration membrane in the reactor, cells and then released DNA can be immobilized and subjected to a series of consecutive processing steps. The steps may include enzymatic reactions, tag hybridization, buffer exchange, and selective removal of cell debris and by-products of the reactions. The system can produce long DNA fragments (up to 0.5 Mb) of bacterial genome restriction digest and perform DNA tagging with fluorescent sequence-specific probes. The DNA obtained is of high purity and floating free in solution, and it can be directly analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) or used in applications requiring submegabase DNA fragments. PFGE-ready samples of DNA restriction digests can be produced in as little as 2.1 h and require less than 10⁸ cells. All fluidic operations are automated except for the injection of the sample and reagents.     

A multi-step strategy for BAC recombineering of large DNA fragments

Recombineering techniques have been developed to modify bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) via bacterial homologous recombination systems, simplifying the molecular manipulations of large DNA constructs. However, precise modifications of a DNA fragment larger than 2-3 kb by recombineering remain a difficult task, due to technical limitations in PCR amplification and purification of large DNA fragments. Here, we describe a new recombineering strategy for the replacement of large DNA fragments using the commonly utilized phage/Red recombination host system. This approach involved the introduction of rare restriction enzyme sites and positive selection markers into the ends of a large DNA fragment, followed by its release from the donor BAC construct and integration into an acceptor BAC. We have successfully employed this method to precisely swap a number of large DNA fragments ranging from 6 to 40 kb between two BAC constructs. Our results demonstrated that this new strategy was highly effective in the manipulations of large genomic DNA fragments and therefore should advance the conventional BAC recombineering technology to the next level.     

一种利用Taq酶快速标记DNA探针的方法

目的：探索低成本、高效、快速的DNA探针标记方法。方法：以特定引物和16nler的随机引物作为延伸引物,利用Taq酶标记DNA探针。以大肠杆菌Klenow片断随机引物延伸标记法作为对照。点杂交方法检测探针标记效果。结果与结论：Taq酶标记法和大肠杆菌Klenow片段随机引物延伸标记法同样有较好的标记效果,且随机引物或特定引物作为延伸引物均可以合成足够有效的探针。Taq酶标记法是一种低成本、高效、快速的DNA探针标记方法。     

Subunit assembly for DNA cleavage by restriction endonuclease SgrAI

The SgrAI endonuclease usually cleaves DNA with two recognition sites more rapidly than DNA with one site, often converting the former directly to the products cut at both sites. In this respect, SgrAI acts like the tetrameric restriction enzymes that bind two copies of their target sites before cleaving both sites concertedly. However, by analytical ultracentrifugation, SgrAI is a dimer in solution though it aggregates to high molecular mass species when bound to its specific DNA sequence. Its reaction kinetics indicate that it uses different mechanisms to cleave DNA with one and with two SgrAI sites. It cleaves the one-site DNA in the style of a dimeric restriction enzyme acting at an individual site, mediating neither interactions in trans, as seen with the tetrameric enzymes, nor subunit associations, as seen with the monomeric enzymes. In contrast, its optimal reaction on DNA with two sites involves an association of protein subunits: two dimers bound to sites in cis may associate to form a tetramer that has enhanced activity, which then cleaves both sites concurrently. The mode of action of SgrAI differs from all restriction enzymes characterised previously, so this study extends the range of mechanisms known for restriction endonucleases.