福尔马林对固定标本DNA提取和扩增的影响

福尔马林被广泛应用于生物标本的长期保存。由于福尔马林可能影响标本DNA的质量,因此需要对福尔马林固定标本DNA的提取和扩增过程进行改进。影响从福尔马林保存标本中提取的DNA质量的主要因素包括福尔马林导致的DNA与蛋白质之间、蛋白质与蛋白质之间、DNA与DNA之间的交联,福尔马林溶液的化学成分、pH值及浓度,标本保存的时间和温度,标本保存部位等。本文总结了目前常用的对标本DNA提取和扩增过程的改进措施及其优点。     

陈旧标本DNA提取方法

对于自然环境中的或长期保存的动物标本,由于保存环境不良或保存时间过长,DNA提取的难度较大。受标本保存时间和损害程度等因素影响,导致实验结果的不稳定性加强,对于同一标本需要反复实验。为了提高DNA提取效率,节省实验成本,现对陈旧损坏标本的DNA提取方法进行综述。     

保存方式和回软温度对蜜蜂标本DNA提取的影响北大核心CSCD

旨在探寻保存方式及制作干标本前回软温度对蜜蜂不同部位DNA的影响。采用酚-氯仿法对不同方式保存的蜜蜂以及不同温度回软后的蜜蜂干标本的总DNA进行提取,通过琼脂糖凝胶电泳和PCR扩增对DNA的提取结果进行鉴定。电泳结果显示,从新鲜标本、无水乙醇泡制或自然干燥保存半年的标本中均可提取到较高质量的总DNA,尤以头部与足部提取效果最佳。经不同水浴温度回软后保存半年的蜜蜂干标本总DNA提取结果显示,回软温度为65℃时对蜜蜂DNA的破坏性最小,DNA提取的最佳部位为蜜蜂足部。正交试验结果显示,55℃回软后的足部为蜜蜂干标本DNA提取的最优组合。PCR扩增结果显示,本实验提取的总DNA能成功地应用于蜜蜂线粒体基因16S rRNA和COI的扩增。从保存方式、提取部位和回软操作3个因素对蜜蜂标本DNA的提取进行了研究,提供了较好的选择方案。     

不同固定剂保存动物组织标本对RAPD反应的影响

为解决野外采集动物标本时,有效地保存好标本,并方便地带回实验室用于ＲＡＰＤ分析的难题。该研究以同一个体的冻存组织为对照,比较了从４种不同固定剂保存的组织标本中提取ＤＮＡ,并用于ＲＡＰＤ扩增。     

松墨天牛成虫标本保存及其DNA提取质量比较

【目的】探讨适合DNA提取的天牛成虫标本保存方法。【方法】采用SDS-蛋白酶K消化法对液氮中冷冻保存、无水乙醇-20℃冷冻保存、无水乙醇室温保存和干标本室温保存且保存时间在2年以上的松墨天牛Monochamus alternates Hope成虫标本基因组DNA进行提取,并对不同保存方式提取的DNA样本进行了质量比较和分析。【结果】在上述常见的松墨天牛成虫标本4种保存方式中,以液氮中冷冻保存效果最佳,其次为无水乙醇-20℃冷冻保存,插针干标本室温保藏效果最差。利用昆虫线粒体基因CO I和CO II的通用引物从上述DNA中均能够成功扩增出目的片段,测序结果证实扩增片段符合预期。【结论】液氮和无水乙醇-20℃冷冻保存适合松墨天牛成虫标本长期保存,且不影响后续的PCR扩增和测序。     

不同保存方式下蝗虫组织DNA的提取及RAPD分析

为了开展蝗虫分子系统学研究,分别对冷冻、乙醇浸泡(100%、乙醇、70％乙醇)和干制蝗虫标本用饱和NaCl法进行了基因组DNA的提取,并用随机引物进行扩增,结果表明：70％乙醇固定的标本和部分干标本提取的总DNA得率较低,在琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测中大音琏分有明显降解,导致PCR扩增中信息缺失,甚至无扩增条带;而保存完好的干标本、-20℃冷冻标本和100%,乙醇浸泡标本提取的总DNA带型整齐,无拖尾,PCR扩增结果的稳定性好,成为蝗虫分子系统学研究中首选的三种保存方式。     

一种高效快速的鱼类标本基因组DNA提取方法

以95%酒精保存的黄鳝(M onopterus albus)和斑鳢(Channa maculates)标本为材料,采用先沉降DNA再去除杂质的方法从鱼类标本中提取基因组DNA。基因组DNA的琼脂糖凝胶电泳和紫外分光光度法检测以及PCR扩增结果显示,本方法提取的鱼类基因组DNA的电泳主带清晰明亮;A260/A280值在1.7830-2.0144之间;PCR扩增产物条带清晰明亮,且单一整齐没有拖带,表明本方法可从酒精保存的鱼类标本中提取比较纯净的DNA,能够满足一般分子生物学试验需要。与传统苯酚/氯仿法相比,本方法操作简单快速,避免了苯酚等物质对后续实验的影响,可作为一种常规动物组织DNA提取方法。     

不同固定液及保存温度、时间对小鼠组织DNA的影响

比较10％甲醛、95％乙醇、Saccomanno3种固定液及不同保存温度、保存时间对小鼠肝、肺组织DNA的影响。取材后将标本分为无固定液组、甲醛组、乙醇组和Saccomanno组,不同温度保存至一定时间后提取DNA进行比较。结果无固定液时,保存3d后,室温且与低温组差别不大。甲醛固定时,对不同保存温度、时间、不同组织的DNA影响不同。乙醇、Saccomanno法室温放置1个月后DNA仍保存良好。短时间室温保存对DNA影响不大。10％甲醛使DNA降解,95％乙醇、Saccomanno法固定则可以保护DNA的完整性。     

有效抽提乙醇中螨标本的核DNA

对如何有效地从乙醇保存的叶螨中抽提核基因组DNA作了探讨。70％乙醇保存的叶螨标本,经过干燥,TEN洗涤,蛋白酶K消化,酚—氯仿抽提,2倍体积无水乙醇沉淀等步骤,得到叶螨核基因组DNA沉淀,再用TE或无菌水溶解后,以其为模板,进行随机引物PCR扩增。结果显示.该方法抽提的DNA无Taq酶抑制物,且其纯度达到进行PCR反应对模板要求的程度。这为采用AP-PCR技术研究螨的系统分类提供了便利。     

粉蚧标本保存与DNA提取方法的比较

【目的】探讨适合粉蚧的标本保存及DNA提取方法。【方法】采用改良CTAB法、改良SDS法、Gen Mag Bio动物细胞组织/细胞基因组磁珠法以及Gene JET Genomic DNA纯化试剂盒法4种方法分别对新鲜活体4℃、无水乙醇﹣20℃和无水乙醇4℃3种保存方式且保存一年以上的扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis成虫进行DNA提取,并对不同提取方法所获取的DNA纯度与质量浓度进行分析比较验证。【结果】3种保存方式中,新鲜活体效果最好,其次为无水乙醇-20℃。无水乙醇4℃效果和无水乙醇﹣20℃无明显区别,均存在一定程度的降解。对于新鲜活体标本,以CTAB法提取的DNA质量最高,其次为Gen Mag Bio磁珠法和SDS法,Gene JET试剂盒法最差;对于无水乙醇﹣20℃和4℃保存时间较长的标本,磁珠法提取的DNA质量明显优于其余3种方法。【结论】无水乙醇﹣20℃可用于粉蚧长期保存,可满足后续分子研究需要;改良CTAB法对新鲜粉蚧成虫DNA提取效果较好,磁珠法对长时间保存DNA存在一定程度降解的粉蚧成虫效果较好。     

FBH1 Helicase Disrupts RAD51 Filaments in Vitro and Modulates Homologous Recombination in Mammalian Cells

Efficient repair of DNA double strand breaks and interstrand cross-links requires the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, a potentially error-free process that utilizes a homologous sequence as a repair template. A key player in HR is RAD51, the eukaryotic ortholog of bacterial RecA protein. RAD51 can polymerize on DNA to form a nucleoprotein filament that facilitates both the search for the homologous DNA sequences and the subsequent DNA strand invasion required to initiate HR. Because of its pivotal role in HR, RAD51 is subject to numerous positive and negative regulatory influences. Using a combination of molecular genetic, biochemical, and single-molecule biophysical techniques, we provide mechanistic insight into the mode of action of the FBH1 helicase as a regulator of RAD51-dependent HR in mammalian cells. We show that FBH1 binds directly to RAD51 and is able to disrupt RAD51 filaments on DNA through its ssDNA translocase function. Consistent with this, a mutant mouse embryonic stem cell line with a deletion in the FBH1 helicase domain fails to limit RAD51 chromatin association and shows hyper-recombination. Our data are consistent with FBH1 restraining RAD51 DNA binding under unperturbed growth conditions to prevent unwanted or unscheduled DNA recombination.     

Human HEL308 localizes to damaged replication forks and unwinds lagging strand structures

HEL308 is a superfamily II DNA helicase, conserved from archaea through to humans. HEL308 family members were originally isolated by their similarity to the Drosophila melanogaster Mus308 protein, which contributes to the repair of replication-blocking lesions such as DNA interstrand cross-links. Biochemical studies have established that human HEL308 is an ATP-dependent enzyme that unwinds DNA with a 3' to 5' polarity, but little else is know about its mechanism. Here, we show that GFP-tagged HEL308 localizes to replication forks following camptothecin treatment. Moreover, HEL308 colocalizes with two factors involved in the repair of damaged forks by homologous recombination, Rad51 and FANCD2. Purified HEL308 requires a 3' single-stranded DNA region to load and unwind duplex DNA structures. When incubated with substrates that model stalled replication forks, HEL308 preferentially unwinds the parental strands of a structure that models a fork with a nascent lagging strand, and the unwinding action of HEL308 is specifically stimulated by human replication protein A. Finally, we show that HEL308 appears to target and unwind from the junction between single-stranded to double-stranded DNA on model fork structures. Together, our results suggest that one role for HEL308 at sites of blocked replication might be to open up the parental strands to facilitate the loading of subsequent factors required for replication restart.     

Studies on human DNA polymerase epsilon and GINS complex and their role in DNA replication

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is carried out by the coordinated action of three DNA polymerases (Pols), Pol α, δ, and ε. In this report, we describe the reconstitution of the human four-subunit Pol ε and characterization of its catalytic properties in comparison with Pol α and Pol δ. Human Pol ε holoenzyme is a monomeric complex containing stoichiometric subunit levels of p261/Pol 2, p59, p17, and p12. We show that the Pol ε p261 N-terminal catalytic domain is solely responsible for its ability to catalyze DNA synthesis. Importantly, human Pol (hPol) ε was found more processive than hPol δ in supporting proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent elongation of DNA chains, which is in keeping with proposed roles for hPol ε and hPol δ in the replication of leading and lagging strands, respectively. Furthermore, GINS, a component of the replicative helicase complex that is composed of Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3, was shown to interact weakly with all three replicative DNA Pols (α, δ, and ε) and to markedly stimulate the activities of Pol α and Pol ε. In vivo studies indicated that siRNA-targeted depletion of hPol δ and/or hPol ε reduced cell cycle progression and the rate of fork progression. Under the conditions used, we noted that depletion of Pol ε had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cellular DNA replication than depletion of Pol δ. We suggest that reduction in the level of Pol δ may be less deleterious because of its collision-and-release role in lagging strand synthesis.     

Distributions of Topological States in Circular DNA

A distinctive feature of closed circular DNA molecules is their particular topological state, which cannot be altered by any conformational rearrangement short of breaking at least one strand. This topological constraint opens unique possibilities for experimental studies of the distributions of topological states created in different ways. Primarily, the equilibrium distributions of topological properties are considered in the review. It is described how such distributions can be obtained and measured experimentally, and how they can be computed. Comparison of the calculated and measured equilibrium distributions over the linking number of complementary strands, equilibrium fractions of knots and links formed by circular molecules has provided much valuable information about the properties of the double helix. Study of the steady-state fraction of knots and links created by type II DNA topoisomerases has revealed a surprising property of the enzymes: their ability to reduce these fractions considerably below the equilibrium level.     

Topoisomerase II Regulates the Maintenance of DNA Methylation

The maintenance of DNA methylation in nascent DNA is a critical event for numerous biological processes. Following DNA replication, DNMT1 is the key enzyme that strictly copies the methylation pattern from the parental strand to the nascent DNA. However, the mechanism underlying this highly specific event is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we identified topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) as a novel regulator of the maintenance DNA methylation. UHRF1, a protein important for global DNA methylation, interacts with TopoIIα and regulates its localization to hemimethylated DNA. TopoIIα decatenates the hemimethylated DNA following replication, which might facilitate the methylation of the nascent strand by DNMT1. Inhibiting this activity impairs DNA methylation at multiple genomic loci. We have uncovered a novel mechanism during the maintenance of DNA methylation.     

The DDN Catalytic Motif Is Required for Metnase Functions in Non-homologous End Joining (NHEJ) Repair and Replication Restart

Metnase (or SETMAR) arose from a chimeric fusion of the Hsmar1 transposase downstream of a protein methylase in anthropoid primates. Although the Metnase transposase domain has been largely conserved, its catalytic motif (DDN) differs from the DDD motif of related transposases, which may be important for its role as a DNA repair factor and its enzymatic activities. Here, we show that substitution of DDN⁶¹⁰ with either DDD⁶¹⁰ or DDE⁶¹⁰ significantly reduced in vivo functions of Metnase in NHEJ repair and accelerated restart of replication forks. We next tested whether the DDD or DDE mutants cleave single-strand extensions and flaps in partial duplex DNA and pseudo-Tyr structures that mimic stalled replication forks. Neither substrate is cleaved by the DDD or DDE mutant, under the conditions where wild-type Metnase effectively cleaves ssDNA overhangs. We then characterized the ssDNA-binding activity of the Metnase transposase domain and found that the catalytic domain binds ssDNA but not dsDNA, whereas dsDNA binding activity resides in the helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain. Substitution of Asn-610 with either Asp or Glu within the transposase domain significantly reduces ssDNA binding activity. Collectively, our results suggest that a single mutation DDN⁶¹⁰ → DDD⁶¹⁰, which restores the ancestral catalytic site, results in loss of function in Metnase.     

Formation of a stable RuvA protein double tetramer is required for efficient branch migration in vitro and for replication fork reversal in vivo

In bacteria, RuvABC is required for the resolution of Holliday junctions (HJ) made during homologous recombination. The RuvAB complex catalyzes HJ branch migration and replication fork reversal (RFR). During RFR, a stalled fork is reversed to form a HJ adjacent to a DNA double strand end, a reaction that requires RuvAB in certain Escherichia coli replication mutants. The exact structure of active RuvAB complexes remains elusive as it is still unknown whether one or two tetramers of RuvA support RuvB during branch migration and during RFR. We designed an E. coli RuvA mutant, RuvA2(KaP), specifically impaired for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions. As expected, the mutant protein is impaired for complex II (two tetramers) formation on HJs, although the binding efficiency of complex I (a single tetramer) is as wild type. We show that although RuvA complex II formation is required for efficient HJ branch migration in vitro, RuvA2(KaP) is fully active for homologous recombination in vivo. RuvA2(KaP) is also deficient at forming complex II on synthetic replication forks, and the binding affinity of RuvA2(KaP) for forks is decreased compared with wild type. Accordingly, RuvA2(KaP) is inefficient at processing forks in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that RuvA2(KaP) is a separation-of-function mutant, capable of homologous recombination but impaired for RFR. RuvA2(KaP) is defective for stimulation of RuvB activity and stability of HJ·RuvA·RuvB tripartite complexes. This work demonstrates that the need for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions for full RuvAB activity in vitro causes specifically an RFR defect in vivo.     

Contribution of the intrinsic curvature to measured DNA persistence length

The persistence length of DNA, a, depends both on the intrinsic curvature of the double helix and on the thermal fluctuations of the angles between adjacent base-pairs. We have evaluated two contributions to the value of a by comparing measured values of a for DNA containing a generic sequence and for an "intrinsically straight" DNA. In each 10 bp segment of the intrinsically straight DNA an initial sequence of five bases is repeated in the sequence of the second five bases, so any bends in the first half of the segment are compensated by bends in the opposite direction in the second half. The value of a for the latter DNA depends, to a good approximation, on thermal fluctuations only; there is no intrinsic curvature. The values of a were obtained from measurements of the cyclization efficiency for short DNA fragments, about 200 bp in length. This method determines the persistence length of DNA with exceptional accuracy, due to the very strong dependence of the cyclization efficiency of short fragments on the value of a. We find that the values of a for the two types of DNA fragment are very close and conclude that the contribution of the intrinsic curvature to a is at least 20 times smaller than the contribution of thermal fluctuations. The relationship between this result and the angles between adjacent base-pairs, which specify the intrinsic curvature, is analyzed.     

A procedure for large-scale isolation of RNA-free plasmid and phage DNA without the use of RNase

A preparative procedure for the large-scale isolation of plasmid DNA without the use of RNAse is described. Crude plasmid DNA is prepared using a standard boiling method. High-molecular-weight RNA is removed by precipitation with LiCl, and low-molecular-weight RNA is removed by sedimentation through high-salt solution. The procedure is inexpensive, rapid, simple, and particularly suitable for processing several large-scale preparations simultaneously. A similar procedure has been developed for preparation of lambda-phage DNA.