Plasmid transformation in Bacillus subtilis: Fate of plasmid DNA

Summary Only multimeric, and not monomeric forms of B. subtilis plasmids can transform B. subtilis cells (Canosi et al. 1978). This finding prompted us to study the physico-chemical fate of plasmid DNA in transformation. Competent cells of B. subtilis were exposed to either unfractionated preparations or to preparations of multimeric plasmid DNA. Plasmid DNA was re-extracted from such cells and then analyzed by sedimentation and isopycnic centrifugation and also defined by its sensitivity to nuclease S1 degradation. No double-stranded plasmid DNA could be recovered from cells transformed with unfractionated plasmid preparations which contained predominantly monomeric covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA, Re-extracted plasmid DNA was single-stranded, had a molecular weight considerably smaller than monomer length DNA and had been subject to degradation to acid soluble products. However, when transformations were performed with multimeric DNA (constructed by in vitro ligation of linearized pC194 DNA), both double-stranded and partially double-stranded DNA could be recovered in addition to single-stranded DNA.We assume that plasmid DNA is converted to a single-stranded form in transformation, irrespective of its molecular structure. Double-stranded and partially double-stranded DNAs found in transformation with multimeric DNA would be the products of intramolecular annealing.Some of these results were presented at the 5th European Meeting on Bacterial Transformation and Transfection, September 1980, Florence     

Purification and characterization of a mitochondrial endonuclease from Drosophila melanogaster embryos.

A mitochondrial endonuclease from Drosophila melanogaster embryos was purified to near homogeneity by successive fractionation with DEAE-cellulose and heparin--avidgel-F, followed by FPLC chromatography on mono S, Superose 12 and a second mono S column. This enzyme digests double-stranded DNA more efficiently than heat-denatured DNA. The endonuclease activity has a molecular mass of 44 kDa, as determined under native conditions using a gel-filtration Superose 12 column. The prominent peptide detected by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis likewise has a molecular mass of 44 kDa, suggesting a monomeric protein. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for divalent cations, preferring Mg2+ over Mn2+. No activity could be detected when these cations were replaced by Ca2+ or Zn2+. The pH optimum for this enzyme activity is 6.5-7.4 and its isoelectric point is 4.9. Both single-strand and double-strand breaks are introduced simultaneously into a supercoiled substrate in the presence of MgCl2 or MnCl2. Endonuclease-treated DNA serves as a substrate for DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli, suggesting that 3'-OH termini are generated during cleavage. The enzyme is free from any detectable DNA exonuclease activity but not from RNase activity. Partial inhibition by antibodies raised against mitochondrial endonucleases derived from bovine heart and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have revealed a potential structural homology between these nucleases.     

Cloned single- and double-stranded DNA copies of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) RNA and co-inoculated subgenomic DNA fragments are infectious

A set of monomeric and oligomeric potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) specific DNA forms representing complete DNA copies of the circular PSTV RNA genome were constructed and cloned in plasmid pBR322 and bacteriophage M13. Both single- and double-stranded PSTV DNAs are capable of initiating viroid replication in mechanically inoculated tomato plants where it normally proceeds via the RNA-RNA pathway without DNA being involved. All dimeric and higher multimeric forms were infectious irrespective of their polarity in the case of single-stranded DNA and regardless of their orientation in the vector DNA in the case of double-stranded DNA. The vector-inserted monomeric PSTV DNA units were also found to be infectious but of low specific infectivity which was increased when these monomers had been excised. Even two subgenomic DNA fragments, representing together the 359 nucleotides of the PSTV RNA genome, initiated the synthesis of viroid RNA progeny when co-inoculated although each fragment by itself is non-infectious. These results are discussed with respect to the infectivity previously observed with certain cloned DNAs of conventional RNA and DNA viruses.     

Bovine thymus poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase. Physical properties and binding to DNA

Purified bovine thymus poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase is a monomeric protein with a single polypeptide chain having a molecular weight of approximately 130,000, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and gel filtration. A high frictional ratio (1.81) indicated that the molecule has an elongated shape, or a high solvation, or both. The enzyme is a basic protein (pI 9.8), and amino acid analysis showed a relatively high lysine content. The enzyme activity is dependent on double-stranded DNA and is solely correlated with single- or double-stranded breaks on the DNA. Filter binding assay technique showed that the enzyme-activating efficiency of DNA correlated sufficiently with its enzyme-binding efficiency. Thus, a very high enzyme-activating efficiency of a DNA fraction (active DNA) which was separated from the crude enzyme fraction is mainly due to its high enzyme-binding efficiency. It was also shown that single-stranded DNA and heparin had a strong inhibitory effect on the binding of the enzyme to double-stranded DNA, whereas competitive inhibitors did not affect the binding, We interpret these results to indicate that the binding of the enzyme to double-stranded DNA is a prerequisite step to its catalytic activity and has a dual function: (a) to position the enzyme on specific binding sites such as single- or double-stranded breaks on the DNA, and (b) to induce an active conformation of the enzyme.     

专一切割苹果锈果类病毒多体自切割核酶的克隆和转录物的体外活性测定

将苹果锈果类病毒的1个14nt的靶序列连接在锤头型核酶的3′末端,构成自切割核酶。经人工合成和PCR扩增,克隆在转录载体pGEM7zf（＋）的XhoⅠ-Hind Ⅲ位点。利用限制酶Xho I与SalI的连接,消失其识别位点序列,将自切割核酶片段插入到重组质粒中,经连续5次亚克隆,分别获得2、4、6、8、10和12拷贝的多体自切割核酶。在T7RNA聚合酶作用下,线性化重组质粒转录的多体自切割核酶通过内部的顺式切割释放出较多数量的核酶分子,提示在转录水平能够提高核酶转录物的浓度。用相同摩尔浓度的单体和12体自切割核酶分别对32P标记的靶ASSVd进行反式切割,核酶与靶RNA摩尔浓度比为1：1。放射自显影结果表明：多体自切割核酶对靶ASSVd的切割效率明显高于单体自切割核酶。我们推测多体自切割核酶在体内系统中可能具有更好的应用价值。     

Linearization of donor DNA during plasmid transformation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

We examined the fate of plasmid DNA after uptake during transformation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. An 11.5-kilobase plasmid, pFA10, was processed to linear double-stranded DNA during uptake by competent cells, but cleavage of pFA10 was not site specific. A minority of pFA10 entered as open circles. A 42-kilobase plasmid, pFA14, was degraded into small fragments during uptake; no intracellular circular forms of pFA14 were evident. Since pFA10 DNA linearized by a restriction enzyme was not further cut during uptake, the endonucleolytic activity associated with entry of plasmid DNA appeared to act preferentially on circular DNA. Although linear plasmid DNA was taken up into a DNase-resistant state as efficiently as circular DNA, linear plasmid DNA transformed much less efficiently than circular plasmid DNA. These data suggest that during entry transforming plasmid DNA often is processed to double-stranded linear molecules; transformants may arise when some molecules are repaired to form circles. Occasional molecules which enter as intact circles may also lead to transformants.     

DNA translocation activity of the multifunctional replication protein ORF904 from the archaeal plasmid pRN1

The replication protein ORF904 from the plasmid pRN1 is a multifunctional enzyme with ATPase-, primase- and DNA polymerase activity. Sequence analysis suggests the presence of at least two conserved domains: an N-terminal prim/pol domain with primase and DNA polymerase activities and a C-terminal superfamily 3 helicase domain with a strong double-stranded DNA dependant ATPase activity. The exact molecular function of the helicase domain in the process of plasmid replication remains unclear. Potentially this motor protein is involved in duplex remodelling and/or origin opening at the plasmid replication origin. In support of this we found that the monomeric replication protein ORF904 forms a hexameric ring in the presence of DNA. It is able to translocate along single-stranded DNA in 3′–5′ direction as well as on double-stranded DNA. Critical residues important for ATPase activity and DNA translocation activity were identified and are in agreement with a homology model of the helicase domain. In addition we propose that a winged helix DNA-binding domain at the C-terminus of the helicase domain could assist the binding of the replication protein specifically to the replication origin.     

Human liver N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase. Purification and characterization.

Human N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase was purified at least 50,000-fold to homogeneity in 78% yield from liver with a simple three-step four-column procedure, which consists of a concanavalin A-Sepharose/Blue A-agarose coupled step, chromatofocusing and Cu2+-chelating Sepharose chromatography. In all, four forms were isolated and partially characterized. Forms A and B, both with a pI greater than 9.5 and representing 30% and 60% respectively of the recovered enzyme activity, were separated by hydroxyapatite chromatography of the enzyme preparation obtained from the Cu2+-chelating Sepharose step. Both forms A and B had native molecular masses of 75 kDa. When analysed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, form A consists of a single polypeptide of molecular mass 78 kDa, whereas form B contained 48 kDa and 32 kDa polypeptide subunits. Neither form A nor form B was taken up from the culture medium into cultured human skin fibroblasts. The two other forms (C and D), with pI values of 5.8 and 5.4 respectively, represented approx. 7% and 3% of the total recovered enzyme activity. The native molecular masses of forms C and D were 94 kDa and approx. 75 kDa respectively. Form C contained three polypeptides with molecular masses of 48, 45 and 32 kDa. N-Acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase activity was measured with a radiolabelled disaccharide substrate derived from heparin. The development of this substrate enabled the isolation and characterization of N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase to proceed efficiently. Forms A, B and C had pH optima of 5.0, Km values of 11.7, 14.2 and 11.1 microM respectively and Vmax. values of 105, 60 and 53 nmol/min per mg of protein respectively. The molecular basis of the multiple forms of this sulphatase is not known. It is postulated that the differences in structure and properties of the four enzyme forms are due to differences in the state of processing of a large subunit.     

Human placenta DNA primase: purification of enzyme and analysis of RNA primer synthesis.

The immunoaffinity purification of human placenta DNA primase devoid of DNA polymerase alpha activity is described. Primase consists of 52 and 59 kDa polypeptides. They form a single protein of 330 kDa under native conditions. The polypeptide structure of primase is believed to be (52 + 59)3. Primase synthesizes the oligoribonucleotides 2-9 monomers long and multimeric oligoribonucleotides of a modal length of about 10 monomers. The following model of RNA primer synthesis is proposed: 1) primase, being in free state or in complex with Pol alpha, forms a protein trimer or another structure that includes several primases; 2) primase synthesizes de novo only the oligonucleotides 2-10 monomers in length; 3) the newly synthesized oligonucleotides dissociate in solution or translocate to either Pol alpha or a neighbouring primase unit to be further elongated with the next 7-10 mononucleotides.     

DNA ligase-AMP adducts: identification of yeast DNA ligase polypeptides

Yeast DNA ligase is radioactively labelled in vitro by incubating a crude cell extract with [alpha-32P]ATP. The product of this reaction is the stable covalent ligase-AMP adduct, which can be characterized by its reactivity with either pyrophosphate or nicked DNA and visualized by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA ligase was identified as an 89 kDa polypeptide by exploiting the fact that transformants with multiple copies of the plasmid-encoded DNA ligase (CDC9) gene overproduce the enzyme by two orders of magnitude. A similar strategy has been used to identify the Schizosaccharomyces pombe DNA ligase as an 87 kDa polypeptide. Both values agree well with the coding capacities of the respective cloned gene sequences. When the S. cerevisiae ligase is greatly overproduced with respect to wild-type levels, a second polypeptide of 78.5 kDa is also labelled and has the same properties as the 89 kDa adduct. We suggest that this polypeptide is generated by proteolysis.     

Complementary addressed modification of single- and double-stranded DNA by alkylating derivatives of oligonucleotides isolated by partial DNA fragmentation

Reagents for complementary addressed modification of nucleic acids are proposed to be synthesized on the base of oligonucleotides obtained by partial chemical fragmentation of DNA. The alkylating 4-(N-2 chlorethyl-N-methylamino) benzyl-5'-phosphamide derivatives of 5'-[32P]-labelled oligonucleotides obtained from single and double-stranded DNA cloned in bacteriophage M13 mp9 have been synthesized. The alkylated derivatives of oligonucleotides selectively modify the complementary tracts of single-stranded DNA-target. They are also able to modify the complementary regions in double-stranded supercoiled plasmid DNA.     

Characterization of goat plasma vitronectin

Vitronectin (VN) was isolated and characterized from goat plasma in native and denatured state. Native VN consisted of 160 and >250 kDa polypeptides, whereas denatured VN showed bands of 81 and >250 kDa on SDS-gel. Storage of 81 kDa polypeptide for 3 days at 4 degrees C resulted in formation of 160 and >250 kDa proteins. Hence high molecular weight forms of VN may be dimer and multimeric forms of 81 kDa monomer. Both native as well as denatured VN showed cell adhesive activity. Cells bound to native VN were round, whereas cells adhered to denatured VN were fully spread, a characteristic also observed with 81 kDa polypeptide. The 81 kDa VN bound to Heparin, whereas the 160 kDa preparation did not bind to Heparin in presence of urea. Absence of EDTA resulted in the degradation of goat VN. Similarly, addition of excess Ca(2+) caused total degradation of VN polypeptides in buffers with EDTA, suggesting metalloprotease activity inthe protein.     

Recognition sites of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I: DNA nucleotide sequencing analysis of topo I cleavage sites on SV40 DNA.

Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I introduces transient single-stranded breaks on double-stranded DNA and spontaneously breaks down single-stranded DNA. The cleavage sites on both single and double-stranded SV40 DNA have been determined by DNA sequencing. Consistent with other reports, the eukaryotic enzymes, in contrast to prokaryotic type I topoisomerases, links to the 3'-end of the cleaved DNA and generates a free 5'-hydroxyl end on the other half of the broken DNA strand. Both human and calf enzymes cleave SV40 DNA at the identical and specific sites. From 827 nucleotides sequenced, 68 cleavage sites were mapped. The majority of the cleavage sites were present on both double and single-stranded DNA at exactly the same nucleotide positions, suggesting that the DNA sequence is essential for enzyme recognition. By analyzing all the cleavage sequences, certain nucleotides are found to be less favored at the cleavage sites. There is a high probability to exclude G from positions -4, -2, -1 and +1, T from position -3, and A from position -1. These five positions (-4 to +1 oriented in the 5' to 3' direction) around the cleavage sites must interact intimately with topo I and thus are essential for enzyme recognition. One topo I cleavage site which shows atypical cleavage sequence maps in the middle of a palindromic sequence near the origin of SV40 DNA replication. It occurs only on single-stranded SV40 DNA, suggesting that the DNA hairpin can alter the cleavage specificity. The strongest cleavage site maps near the origin of SV40 DNA replication at nucleotide 31-32 and has a pentanucleotide sequence of 5'-TGACT-3'.     

Norfloxacin-induced DNA gyrase cleavage complexes block Escherichia coli replication forks, causing double-stranded breaks in vivo

Antibacterial quinolones inhibit type II DNA topoisomerases by stabilizing covalent topoisomerase-DNA cleavage complexes, which are apparently transformed into double-stranded breaks by cellular processes such as replication. We used plasmid pBR322 and two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis to examine the collision of replication forks with quinolone-induced gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes in Escherichia coli. Restriction endonuclease-digested DNA exhibited a bubble arc with discrete spots, indicating that replication forks had been stalled. The most prominent spot depended upon the strong gyrase binding site of pBR322, providing direct evidence that quinolone-induced cleavage complexes block bacterial replication forks in vivo. We differentiated between stalled forks that do or do not contain bound cleavage complex by extracting DNA under different conditions. Resealing conditions allow gyrase to efficiently reseal the transient breaks within cleavage complexes, while cleavage conditions cause the latent breaks to be revealed. These experiments showed that some stalled forks did not contain a cleavage complex, implying that gyrase had dissociated in vivo and yet the fork had not restarted at the time of DNA isolation. Additionally, some branched plasmid DNA isolated under resealing conditions nonetheless contained broken DNA ends. We discuss a model for the creation of double-stranded breaks by an indirect mechanism after quinolone treatment.