Satellite DNA in differentiating chick tissues

Embryonic chick DNA from different tissues was examined for differences which might indicate specific DNA amplification in somatic cells. The problem was approached by determining the DNA compositional heterogeneity and searching for possible variation in different tissues of the 12-day chick. Neural retina, muscle, and whole decapitated (general) chick DNA were analyzed in CsCl and Cs2SO4 density gradients. While overloaded CsCl gradients showed a main band (rho = 1.701 g/cm3) and a heavy shoulder (rho = 1.716 g/cm3), overloaded Cs2SO4 gradients displayed a main band (rho = 1.426 g/cm3) and a discrete heavy satellite (rho = 1.447 g/cm3). This satellite, comprising approximately 1% of the whole cell DNA, appeared to be of nuclear origin and not related to mitochondrial DNA, which was found to have a density of 1.426 g/cm3 in Cs2SO4. No differences were found in the densities of the main band or the satellite DNA in the DNA samples isolated from the different tissues. However, the method of DNA isolation was found to be of crucial importance when comparing satellite DNA's among different tissues.     

The hemolytic properties of the membrane modifying peptide antibiotics alamethicin, suzukacillin and trichotoxin (author's transl)

1. Using hybridisation techniques nuclei from both amoebae and plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum were found to contain 275 genes each coding for 5.8-S, 19-S and 26-S rRNA, 685 genes for 5-S rRNA and 1050 genes for tRNA. 2. Hybridisation of these RNA species to both amoebal and plasmodial DNA fractionated on CsCl gradients reveal that the 5.8-S, 19-S and 26-S rRNA genes are located at a satellite position (formula: see text) with respect to the main band of DNA, whereas 4-S RNA genes are located exclusively in the main band of DNA (formula: see text). 3. This result was confirmed by demonstrating that only the 5.8-S, 19-S and 26-S rRNA species hybridise to purified plasmodial ribosomal DNA. 4. The 19-S and 26-S rRNA genes of amoebae are located on extrachromosomal DNA molecules of a discrete size (Mr = 38 X 10(6)) with identical properties to plasmodial ribosomal DNA.     

Characterization of the DNA in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

DNA has been quantitatively extracted from Drosophila melanogaster at various stages of embryonic development and analyzed by isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl and by fractionation on methylated albumin columns. The DNA is composed of three main classes of DNA, as defined by their buoyant density, rho, in CsCl: a bulk DNA, rho = 1.699 g cm(-3), and two satellite DNAs, rho = 1.685 g cm(-3) and rho = 1.669 g cm(-3). These three types of DNA persist throughout the development of the insect. In the unfertilized egg, 80% of the total DNA consists of the satellite DNAs; this amount decreases to 18% during the first three hours after fertilization and then remains constant through embryogenesis. There is a concomitant increase of the satellite DNA's with the bulk DNA after blastoderm formation.     

Satellite Dnas in the Embryos of Various Species of the Genus Drosophila

A tentative evolutionary pattern has been found for two classes of the multiple satellite DNA's found in the genus Drosophila. The satellite DNA's from five Drosophila species (D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. nasuta, D. virilis and D. hydei) were analyzed and found to fall into three arbitrary CsCl buoyant density classes: Class I, rho = 1.661-1.669 g cm(-3), DNA molecules composed of primarily dA and dT moieties; Class II, rho = 1.685 and rho = 1.692, DNA molecules of low GC content; and Class III, rho = 1.711, a DNA of high GC composition. The dAT satellite DNA's appear in all the species studied except D. hydei, the species of most recent evolutionary divergence, whereas the heavy satellite appears only in the two species of most recent divergence, D. virilis and D. hydei.     

Identification and separation of components of calf thymus DNA using a CsCl-netropsin density gradient

Calf thymus DNA containing satellite components of various densities was used as a model to study the effect of netropsin on the density of DNA in a CsCl gradient. The binding of netropsin resulted in a decrease in density which depended upon the quantity of netropsin added and on the average composition of the DNA. Differences in density of DNA components were higher in CsCl - netropsin gradients than in simple CsCl gradients. By use of netropsin a main band and four satellite bands could be differentiated in calf thymus DNA. Satellite DNA's were isolated using preparative CsCl - netropsin gradient centrifugation and were characterised by density and homogeneity in native and in reassociated state. Two of the satellite components, with densities of 1.722 and 1.714 g/cm³, are probably of homogenous sequence, the other two components of densities 1.709 and 1.705 g/cm³ appear to be heterogeneous.     

On the question of integration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens deoxyribonucleic acid by tomato plants.

Treatment of tomato plants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes subsequently administered [3H]thymidine to be preferentially incorporated into a satellite deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) whose buoyant density is between that of bacterial DNA (rho = 1.718 g/cm3) and plant main band DNA (rho = 1.692 g/cm3). Satellite DNA upon shearing or sonic treatment releases fragments of higher and lower buoyant density, as reported by earlier investigators. The satellite has no significant base sequence homology with A. tumefaciens DNA, for its rate of reassociation is not accelerated by the addition of high concentrations of the latter. Tomato DNA isolated from shoots or from leaf nuclei accelerates renaturation of labeled satellite DNA. We conclude that the intermediate density labeled DNA is a plant satellite and not the product of covalent joining of bacterial and plant DNA as suggested by earlier investigators.     

The chromosomal distribution of satellite DNA in the germ-line and somatic tissues of the gall midge,Heteropeza pygmaea

Somatic DNA from Heteropeza pygmaea separated in CsCl gradients into a main band DNA (?=1.685 g/cm³) and a satellite band (?=1.716 g/cm³) comprising 15% of the total DNA. The satellite melted sharply at 93.0°C in SSC, 10.4°C higher than the main band DNA. Satellite DNA reassociated rapidly, banding in CsCl heavier than native satellite but lighter than denatured satellite. The complementary strands of the satellite formed a single band in alkaline gradients and hence are apparently similar in G+T composition. — Filter hybridization experiments with Xenopus ribosomal RNA showed that the satellite band does not contain ribosomal cistrons. — Complementary RNA (cRNA) transcribed in vitro from isolated satellite bound extensively to satellite DNA but not to main band DNA. — The strain of Heteropeza used here contained about 58 chromosomes in germ-line cells and reproduced only paedogenetically. During early cleavage, the presumptive somatic nuclei eliminate most of their chromosomes (E-chromosomes) and retain only ten (S-chromosomes). In situ hybridizations with satellite-cRNA showed satellite DNA (prepared from predominately somatic tissues) to be localized in the centromeric heterochromatin of S- and E-chromosomes. Silver grain comparisons suggested that the amount of satellite is equivalent in both types of chromosomes. — Lastly we found that both diploid and polyploid cells contain similar amounts of satellite DNA. We interpreted this to mean that during polyploidization, as has been demonstrated during polytenization, satellite DNA does not replicate or replicates only slightly while other DNA fractions increase.     

Isolation and characterization of satellite DNA from mustard seedlings

The DNA from mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings was examined by neutral CsCl and Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ density gradient centrifugation. Different satellite fractions were revealed by these two methods. The satellite fractions obtained from the Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ density gradient could not be generally correlated with satellite DNA fractions observed in CsCl. In CsCl density gradient centrifugation, a main band at density 1,695 g/cm³ and a heavy shoulder at density 1,703 g/cm³ are found. By preparative CsCl gradient centrifugation the heavy shoulder can be enriched but not completely separated from the main band DNA.—Gradient centrifugation by complexing the DNA with Ag⁺ rf. 0.25 to DNA phosphate reveals three distinct fractions which are further characterized: The heavy satelite DNA fraction revealed by Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ gradient centrifugation has the same density in a CsCl gradient and the same Tm value as the main band, but differs from main band DNA in the details of its melting profile and in its renaturation kinetics. The light Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ satellite DNA fraction had a higher melting temperature corresponding to a GC-rich base composition. Differences between these 3 fractions are observed in thermal denaturation and renaturation profiles, hybridization in situ with ribosomal RNA, and their response to restriction endonuclease digestion. The light satellite fraction from the Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ gradient, rich in ribosomal cistrons corresponds to the heavy shoulder DNA of neutral CsCl gradients which also is rich in ribosomal cistrons. The heavy satellite fraction from Ag⁺/Cs₂SO₄ gradient which contains highly repetitive short nucleotide sequences could not be revealed by the classical CsCl gradient centrifugation technique.     

Characterization of cytoplasmic and nuclear genomes in the colorless alga Polytoma. II. General characterization of organelle nucleic acids.

Polytoma obtusum has a main band DNA (alpha) with a buoyant density in CsC1 of rho = 1.711 g/ml and a light DNA satellite (beta) with rho = 1.682 g/ml. beta-DNA was substantially enriched in a fraction containing small leucoplast fragments and some mitochondria, which was obtained in a pellet sedimenting between 3,000 g and 5,000 g. A crude mitochondrial pellet was also obtained by sedimenting at 12,000 g to recover particulates remaining in the supernate after 10 min at 5,000 g. This fraction contained a third DNA component (gamma) with rho = 1.714 g/ml. We have concluded that the leucoplasts of P. obtusum contain the beta-DNA (1.6882) and the mitochondria possess the gamma-component (1.714). Two distinct classess of ribosomes were isolated and separated by sucrose density gradients, a major 79S species and a minor species at 75S. The major species possessed the 25S and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), characteristic of cytoplasmic ribosomes, and these particles co-sedimented in sucrose gradients with the 79S cytoplasmic ribosomes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The minor species was present in about 2% of the total ribosomal population but showed an eight-to-ninefold enrichment in the leucoplast pellet, suggesting that it was of organelle origin. These 73S particles had RNA components migrating very closely with the 18S and 25S species of the 79S ribosomes, but the base composition of the rRNA from these two classes of ribosomes was significantly different; the rRNA from the 79S ribosomes had a G+C mole ratio of 50.0%, while the rRNA from the 73S class had a ratio of 47.5%. By comparison, chloroplast ribosomes of C. reinhardtii were found to sediment at 70S and contain rRNA molecules of 23S and 16S, with a G + C content of 51.0%. These findings support the concept that the Polytoma leucoplast possesses characteristic genetic and protein-forming systems.     

Evidence for the selective replication of dwarf pea DNA evoked by exogenous gibberellin application

Characteristics of the total DNA preparations isolated from apical parts of dwarf pea seedlings untreated and treated with gibberellic acid (GA3) were compared. Analytical centrifugation in a self-generated CsCl density gradient revealed the occurrence of a heavy satellite DNA band (p = 1.712 g X cm-3) in addition to the main DNA band (p = 1.696 g X cm-3) in the DNA preparation extracted from GA3-treated seedlings, that could not be detected in the DNA isolated from untreated plants. The existence of this GC-rich DNA fraction was additionally confirmed by means of derivative DNA melting profiles. Comparison of the reassociation kinetics obtained for control DNA with DNA from GA3-treated plants showed changes in the percentage distribution of three main DNA sequence classes, with different repetition frequency in the haploid pea genome. It is postulated that such a variation in the percentage of different C0t families might reflect the selective DNA replication evoked by hormonal treatment of dwarf pea plants.     

Compositional patterns in the nuclear genome of cold-blooded vertebrates

Summary DNA preparations obtained from 122 species of fishes, 5 species of amphibians, and 13 species of reptiles were investigated in their compositional properties by analytical equilibrium centrifugation in CsCl density gradients. These species represented 21 orders of Osteichthyes, 3 orders of Chondrichthyes, 2 orders of amphibians, and 3 orders of reptiles. Modal buoyant densities of fish DNAs ranged from 1.696 to 1.707 g/cm³, the vast majority of values falling, however, between 1.699 and 1.704 g/cm³, which is the range covered by the DNAs of amphibians and reptiles. In all cases, DNA bands in CsCl were only weakly asymmetrical and only very rarely were accompanied by separate satellite bands (mostly on the GC-rich side). Intermolecular compositional heterogeneities were low in the vast majority of cases, and, like CsCl band asymmetries, at least partially due to cryptic or poorly resolved satellites. The present findings indicate, therefore, that DNAs from cold-blooded vertebrates are characterized by a number of common properties, namely a very wide spectrum of modal buoyant densities, low intermolecular compositional heterogeneities, low CsCl band asymmetries, and, in most cases, small amounts of satellite DNAs. In the case of fish DNAs a negative correlation was found between the GC level and the haploid size (c value) of the genome. If polyploidization is neglected, this phenomenon appears to be mainly due to the fact that increases and decreases in GC are associated with contraction and expansion phenomena, respectively, of intergenic noncoding sequences, which are GC poor relative to coding sequences.     

Satellite DNA sequences in the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

There is a complex pattern of satellite DNA sequences in M. rufus which are revealed by addition of Ag+ or dye (Hoechst 33258) to the DNA ink Cs2SO4 or CsCl equilibrium density gradients. Six satellite DNA fractions have been isolated; these have buoyant densities in neutral CsCl of 1.692, 1.704, 1.705, 1.707 (two), 1.710 and 1.712 g/ml compared with 1.696 g/ml for the main band DNA. Each satellite accounts for 1-3% of the DNA of the genome. The satellites are located in the centromeric heterochromatin of the chromosomes, in the nucleolar organizer region and in interstitial bands on some of the autosomes, each satellite having a unique distribution. Nucleic acid hybridization showed that six of the satellite sequences are also present in the genomes of the wallaroo and the red-necked wallaby, with sequence divergences of only 1-2% relative to the sequences in the red kangaroo.     

Sequence analysis of bovine satellite I DNA (1.715 gm/cm3).

The 1402 bp Eco RI repeating unit of bovine satellite I DNA (rho CsCl = 1.715 gm/cm3) has been cloned in pBR322. The sequence of this cloned repeat has been determined and is greater than 97% homologous to the sequence reported for another clone of satellite I (48) and for uncloned satellite I DNA (49). The internal sequence structure of the Eco RI repeat contains imperfect direct and inverted repeats of a variety of lengths and frequencies. The most outstanding repeat structures center on the hexanucleotide CTCGAG which, at a stringency of greater than 80% sequence homology, occurs at 26 locations within the RI repeat. Two of these 6 bp units are found within the 31 bp consensus sequence of a repeating structure which spans the entire length of the 1402 bp repeat (49). The 31 bp consensus sequence contains an internal dodecanucleotide repeat, as do the consensus sequences of the repeat units determined for 3 other bovine satellite DNAs (rho CsCl = 1.706, 1.711a, 1.720 gm/cm3). Based on this evidence, we present a model for the evolutionary relationship between satellite I and the other bovine satellites.     

S1 nuclease definition of highly repeated DNA sequences in the Guinea pig, Cavia porcellus.

Native DNA of the Guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, purified from liver or tissue culture cells, was heat denatured and reassociated to a Cot value of 0.01 (equivalent Cot value of 7.2 x 10(-2)). The reassociated DNA was isolated by digestion with the single-strand DNA specific enzyme S1 nuclease. Spectrophotometric and radioactivity assays demonstrated that 24% of the total DNA was resistant to S1 nuclease treatment. Zero-time reassociation indicated that approximately 3% of the DNA was inverted repeat sequences. Thus, highly repeated sequences comprised 21% of the total genome. CsCl buoyant density ultracentrifugation indicated that this fraction was composed of both main band and satellite sequences. Although actinomycin D - CsCl density gradients failed to give significant separation of the repetitive sequences, distamycin A - CsCl gradients were able to fractionate the DNA into several overlapping bands. The heterogeneity of the repetitive DNA was further demonstrated by the first derivative plots calculated from their thermal denaturation profiles. This analysis revealed six major thermalytes which indicate that there may be at least six discrete components in the repetitive DNA.     

Analysis of the genome of plants. II. Characterization of repetitive DNA in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Barley and wheat DNAs have been characterized by studying their kinetics of reassociation, melting properties and sedimentation behaviour in neutral CsCl gradients as well as in Cs2SO4 gradients containing Ag+ or Hg2+. In both species, reassociation kinetics have revealed the presence of approx. 76% redundant nucleotide sequences which have been grouped into very rapidly reassociating (Cot 0-0.01), rapidly reassociating (Cot 0.01-1.0) and slowly reassociating (Cot 1-100) fractions. The barley Cot 0-0.01 and Cot 0.01-1.0 fractions as well as the wheat Cot 0.01-1.0 fraction form narrow bands upon centrifugation in CsCl gradients. Under similar experimental conditions both Cot 0.01 and Cot 1.0-100 wheat fractions and the barley Cot 1.0-100 fraction form broad bands each having several shoulders. Thermal denaturation studies of most of the above reassociated fractions have shown a considerable degree of order in their duplexes with an average hyperchromicity of 21.5%. When native, high molecular weight barley DNA is centrifuged in Ag+/CS2SO4 density gradients (RF = 0.2), two satellites appear on the heavier side of the main band, as against one in the case of wheat. The two minor peaks, designated as satellites I and II, have buoyant densities of 1.702 and 1.698 g/cm3, respectively, in neutral CsCl gradients and together represent about 8-9% of total barley DNA. Upon centrifugation in Hg2+/CS2SO4 density gradients, one satellite is observed in both barley and wheat and it accounts for 1-2% of their genomes.     

Effects of Ethidium Bromide and Several Acridine Dyes on the Kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania tropica*†

Whole cell DNA from Leishmania tropica has 2 peaks when banded by CsCl equilibrium density centrifugation. The main band has a buoyant density of 1.721 and the satellite band a buoyant density of 1.705, with Clostridium perfringens DNA (ρ= 1.6915) used as a reference. The satellite band has been identified as the kinetoplast DNA by purifying DNA from isolated kinetoplasts. L. tropica has the highest G + C content of both nuclear and kinetoplastic DNA thus far reported for trypanosomatids. The effects of ethidium bromide, acriflavin, proflavin, and 5-aminoacridine on the kinetoplast of L. tropica have been compared. Ethidium bromide and acriflavin, but not proflavin or 5-aminoacridine, induce dyskinetoplasty. L. tropica is one of the most sensitive trypanosomatids to ethidium bromide and acriflavin. Examination of the DNA from drug-treated cells in CsCl gradients revealed a loss of the satellite band after ethidium bromide or acriflavin treatment, but not after proflavin or 5-aminoacridine treatment. Cell division was required to produce these effects on the kinetoplast.     

Structure of 1.71 lb gm/cm(3) bovine satellite DNA: evolutionary relationship to satellite I

The Eco RI fragments from the 2600 bp repeating unit of 1.711b gm/Cm(3) bovine satellite DNA were cloned in pBR322. The structure of the repeat unit was determined and compared to bovine satellite I DNA (rho CsCl = 1.715 gm/cm(3)). All of the DNA in the 1402 bp repeat of satellite I is represented in the sequence of the 2600 bp 1.711b gm/cm(3) repeat. The difference between the two repeats is due to a 1200 bp piece of DNA (INS) residing in the middle of the 1.711b gm/cm(3) repeat. The INS is AT-rich and has some repetitive components; it bears only limited similarity to the structure of eukaryotic transposable elements. We propose that the 1.711b gm/cm(3) satellite DNA arose via the amplification of a 1.715 gm/cm(3) satellite repeat altered by a 1200 bp insertion of DNA.     

Isolation and characterisation of satellite DNA from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern

Nuclear DNA isolated from hypocotyls (H), proliferating callus (PC) and differentiating callus (DC) of Brassica juncea contains a satellite DNA which can be resolved in actinomycin-D/CsCl gradients. The satellite DNA undergoes changes, when an in vitro culture is raised from hypocotyl tissue and forms a higher percentage of the genome in PC and DC than in mature differentiated tissue (hypocotyl). All the three satellite DNAs are GC-rich compared to main band DNAs. Satellite DNA of H has higher Tm and GC content than that of the PC and DC satellites. A 200 bp basic repeat unit from hypocotyl nuclear DNA has been cloned and characterised.     

Heavy and Light Particles of Adeno-Associated Virus

KB cells coinfected with adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV) yielded two kinds of infectious AAV particles that banded in CsCl at densities of 1.45 and 1.41 g/cm², respectively. The 1.45 band was found to be composed of a heterogeneous group of viral particles that could be subfractionated by velocity sedimentation. The main component from this band had a smaller S value (109) than the main component from the 1.41 band (111S), although both had the same DNA/protein ratio and the same density in metrizamide gradients. Continuous-label experiments showed that early after infection, both components (1.45 and 1.41) were generated in the same amounts, but this was followed by a relative increase in the proportion of the 1.41 component over the 1.45 particles. Pulse-chase analysis failed to demonstrate a precursor-product relationship between these two bands. The slower-sedimenting components from the 1.45 band were unstable in CsCl and were present in a greater proportion early after infection. These particles contained DNA that was enriched for the terminal sequences of the AAV genomes and was accessible to digestion with micrococcal nuclease.     

Cat satellite DNA. Isolation using netropsin with CsCl gradients

The absence of centromeric bands in the karyotype of Felis catus is confirmed. It is also confirmed that no satellite band is visible in CsCl density gradients. However, a satellite is observed both by recentrifuging the fraction of the DNA that bands at high density in CsCl and by using netropsin to enhance the resolution of a CsCl gradient containing total F. catus DNA. The satellite, about 0.5% of total DNA, was isolated by repeated centrifugation in CsCl alone and in CsCl with netropsin. Netropsin was removed and a pure satellite DNA obtained. The reassociation kinetics (C0t1/2 less than 10(-3) M . s) show that the satellite is of the simple sequence type and hence a candidate for centromeric heterochromatin. Its cytological localisation awaits in situ hybridisation experiments.