Differential replication of satellite and main band DNA during early stages of callus formation in carrot root tissue

DNA synthesis during the early stages of callus formation wasexamined in carrot root slices cultured on an agar medium containing2,4-D. During the first 12 hr of culture, only a low level of3H-thymidine was incorporated into DNA, after which the incorporationrapidly increased and reached a maximum at about 48 hr, thengradually decreased. CsCl density centrifugation of total tissueDNA indicated that a satellite DNA with a buoyant density ofabout 1.712 g/ml replicates in the early phase of the DNA syntheticperiod, then the main band DNA with a buoyant density of 1.695–1.700g/ml starts its replication and continues to be produced throughoutthe synthetic period. The labeled satellite DNA, as well asthe labeled main band DNA, was localized mainly in the subcellularfraction of 1,000 ? g sediments obtained from tissue homogenates.The patterns of cellular localization were not modified by theaddition of Triton X-100 to the initial homogenates. A considerableportion of the labeled satellite DNA was found in nuclease-resistantchromatin subunits after limited digestion of the isolated chromatinwith micrococcal nuclease. (Received August 30, 1979; )     

Chromatographic resolution of nucleic acids extracted from Penicillium chrysogenum

Summary High molecular weight DNA extracted from Penicillium chrysogenum has been fractionated using RPC-5 Analog, into three distinct types designated 1, 2 and 3. Types 1 and 2 have the same buoyant density of 1.710 g/cm³ and together appear to comprise the nuclear DNA. Type 1 is enriched for repeated sequences which are normally observed in restriction digests of P. chrysogenum total DNA. Conversely, type 2 appears to be composed entirely of non-repetitive sequences. Type 3 has been identified as mitochondrial DNA, having a buoyant density of 1.695 g/cm³ and an estimated molecular weight of 31.6×10⁶ Daltons.     

Satellite DNA associated with heterochromatin in Rhynchosciara

The DNA of Rhynchosciara hollaenderi was examined using isopycnic centrifugation in neutral CsCl. Two low density minor bands (collectively termed satellite DNA) were detected in addition to the main band DNA. Main band DNA has a buoyant density of 1.695 g/cm³. The larger of the two minor bands has a buoyant density of 1.680 g/cm³ while the smaller of the two minor bands has a buoyant density of about 1.675 g/cm³. Thermal denaturation studies have confirmed the presence of the two minor classes of DNA.—The satellite and main band DNAs were isolated in relatively pure form and were transcribed in vitro using DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. Annealing of the two complementary RNAs (cRNAs) with main band and satellite DNA was examined using filter hybridization techniques.—The chromosomal distribution of the satellite DNA was determined by in situ molecular hybridization of satellite-cRNA with Rhynchosciara salivary gland chromosomes. Satellite-cRNA hybridized with the centromeric heterochromatin of each of the four chromosomes (A, B, C, and X) and with certain densely staining bands in the telomere regions of the A and C chromosomes. Main band-cRNA annealed with many loci scattered throughout the chromosomes including areas containing satellite DNA.     

Structure of DNA in Spores of Bacillus cereus

The structure of DNA extracted from dormant and germinating spores of B. cereus T was investigated using circular dichroism and other methods. No significant differences between DNAs extracted from vegetative cells and from spores of various stages could be found by analyses of CD spectra, CsCl density gradient centrifugation, melting profiles and template activity. All the DNA preparations were in B conformation and had the same density (1.695), Tm (83°C) and template activity in the reaction of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. An abnormal DNA fraction of high density which was formerly found in B. cereus spores or a stable DNA complex with protein and/or RNA was not detected in the present extracts of spores. Preliminary X-ray analyses of intact spores indicate that the structure of DNA in spores is not so different from B form.     

Structure of Herpesvirus saimiri genomes: arrangement of heavy and light sequences in the M genome.

Herpesvirus saimiri contains two species of DNA molecules. (i) The M genome is composed of 70% light (L) DNA (36% cytosine plus guanine; density in CsCl, 1.695 g/ml), which consists of unique sequences, and 30% heavy (H) DNA (71% cytosine plus guanine; density, 1.729 g/ml). (ii) The H genome contains heavy sequences exclusively. H sequences in M and H genomes cross-hybridize completely and are cleaved identically by restriction endonuclease R-Sma I into four classes of fragments with molecular weights of about 360,000, 300,000, 130,000 and 40,000, respectively. H sequences are chains of identical repeat units in tandem arrangement. The molecular weight of each repeat unit is about 830,000. L sequences have no cleavage site for endo R-Sma I H sequences are terminally arranged at both ends of the M genome, as seen by electron microscopy after partial denaturation. The length of the individual heavy ends varies between 21 mum and less than 1 mum, whereas the light region is uniform in size (35.3+/-0.35 mum). As a rule, molecules with a long heavy end at one side have a short heavy end at the other side, thus giving rise to a limited size heterogeneity. Orientation of M DNA molecules by the denaturation map of the light region shows that the longer heavy end may be located at the left or at the right side of the M genome.     

Satellite DNA and cytogenetic evolution

The genusDipodomys (kangaroo rats) exhibits major interspecies variations in the proportions of highly reiterated satellite DNA sequences in the genome as well as in the chromosome number and the proportions of uni-armed and bi-armed chromosomes. For nearly all of the approximately 22 species of the genus and several subspecies, liver DNA was distributed in neutral CsCl buoyant density gradients into four fractions: principal DNA (1.698 g/ml), intermediate-density DNA (1.702 g/ml), MS satellite (1.707 g/ml) and HS (heavy) satellites (1.713 g/ml). The total nuclear DNA content of diploid liver cells measured in eleven species by quantitative cytophotometry, ranged from 6.9 to 10.9 pg. These data were correlated with known features of the karyotypes of individual species. The salient findings were: (1) that interspecies variations in diploid chromosome number cluster at 52–54, 60–64 and 70–72 (2) that high total nuclear DNA was associated with high chromosome number, and with relatively large amounts of satellite DNA (3) that a high ratio of HS satellites to intermediate-density DNA was generally correlated with a predominance of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes (high fundamental number). The relationships of satellite DNA to karyotype structure reveal a new level of hierarchy in the genome that appears capable of exerting global control over environmental adaptation and the evolution of new species. This mechanism is consistent with recent hypotheses that changes in the macro-structure of the genome are more important than point mutations in facilitating the rapid phases of animal evolution.     

Studies on Spinach Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Using Large-scale Tissue Preparations

A method for the large-scale preparation of spinach chloroplasts using the Spinco Model L-4 zonal ultracentrifuge and for the extraction of DNA from the chloroplasts is described. Thirty-five percent of the chloroplast DNA (rho = 1.706 g/cc) differs from nuclear DNA (rho = 1.695 g/cc) in buoyant density. T(m), base composition, and renaturation properties. Sixty-five percent of the chloroplast DNA (rho = 1.696 g/cc) has the same buoyant density and T(m) as nuclear DNA, but it differs in base composition and renaturation properties.     

Characterization of the genome of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune

DNA of Schizophyllum commune was isolated both from mycelial cells and from protoplasts. Nuclear DNA was isolated after solubilization of the mitochondria with the detergent Nonidet. The G + C content of the nuclear DNA was 57%, calculated from its buoyant density (1.7165 g/ml) and from the Tm (77.4 degrees C in 15 mM NaCl/1.5 mM trisodium citrate). The buoyant density of the ribosomal cistrons was 1.707 g/ml. DNA isolated from purified mitochondria had a very low G + C content: 22% (rho = 1.6845 g/ml, Tm = 61.8 degrees C in 15 mM NaCl/1.5 mM trisodium citrate). Analysis of CsCl profiles and melting patterns suggested that mitochondrial DNA contains interspersed (A + T)-rich sequences. From reassociation analysis of sheared nuclear DNA the genome size of S. commune was determined to be 22.8 . 10(9) daltons. A small amount of DNA (0.5 . 10(9) daltons) bound to hydroxyapatite at zero time Cot. 7% of the genome (1.6 . 10(9) daltons) represented repetitive DNA.     

Nuclear DNA,nuclear area and nuclear dry mass in thirteen species of Crotalaria (Angiospermae,Leguminosae)

Estimations on nuclear DNA content, nuclear area and nuclear dry mass were made on 13 species of Crotalaria, with the help of Vicker's M 85 microdensitometer and Vicker's interferometer. Highly significant differences for all three characters were found between species. DNA density (DNA/area) increased with increase in DNA content. The cultivated species, C. juncea had a lower DNA density relative to its DNA content.—Nuclear DNA made only a small fraction of nuclear dry mass (115). Although total dry mass and non-nucleolar nuclear dry mass showed significant regression on DNA content, the nucleolar dry mass gave a much wider scatter, indicating that nucleolar mass is not equally dependent on nuclear DNA content.     

Polytene chromosomes of Oxytricha: Biochemical and morphological changes during macronuclear development in a ciliated protozoan

After conjugation in the ciliated protozoan, Oxytricha, polytene chromosomes are formed during the development of a macronucleus from a micronucleus. Here we report a microscopic study of these chromosomes and an analysis of their DNA. The polytene chromosomes of Oxytricha bear a strong morphological resemblance to the polytene chromosomes of the Dipteran salivary gland. The nucleus of a developing macronuclear anlage contains 120±2 polytene chromosomes and each chromosome has an average of 81 bands; a total of about 10,000 bands per nucleus. At a later stage in development, the number of bands per chromosome is reduced by a factor of four, presumably due to fusion of adjacent bands. The polytene chromosomes then break up into their constituent bands, each of which is encased in a vesicle. There are about 2,700 vesicles per nucleus. — During the growth of polytene chromosomes, there is a change in the relative proportion of sequences in the DNA. The DNA from polytene nuclei has a buoyant density of 1.695 g/cc, significantly lighter than the density of the original micronuclear DNA (1.698 g/cc to 1.702 g/cc). We interpret this buoyant density change to be the result of differential replication of DNA sequences during polytene chromosome growth. A second change in DNA composition occurs after the polytene stage of development, shown by a shift in buoyant density to 1.701 g/cc in the DNA of the mature macronucleus. During this second process, the molecular weight of the DNA is reduced from greater than 50×10⁶ daltons to about 2×10⁶ daltons.This paper is No. VI in the series, DNA of Ciliated Protozoa.     

Scanning Electron Microscopic Observation of Differentiation from the Reproductive Short Form to the Infectious Long Form of Holospora obtusa

To identify the surface features of Holospora obtusa during its differentiation from the reproductive short form to the infectious long form, bacteria of four different buoyant densities were isolated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation of homogenates of host cells or isolated macronuclei, and examined with a scanning electron microscope. Bacteria of buoyant density 1.09 g/ml were reproductive short forms as well as cells at various stages in the elongation process including fully elongated ones. Bacteria of buoyant densities 1.11 g/ml and 1.13 g/ml were premature long forms and those of 1.16 g/ml were mature infectious long forms. Bacteria of buoyant density 1.09 g/ml had an entirely rough surface while those of buoyant densities 1.11 g/ml and 1.13 g/ml were smooth and had wale-like stripes on their surface. A small tapered tip was observed at one end of the bacteria of buoyant density 1.13 g/ml. Bacteria of buoyant density 1.16 g/ml had an entirely smooth surface, but one end always showed a rough surface; this locally differentiated surface of the special tip of the infectious long form may be responsible for both the nuclear and species specificities of the infectivity of H. obtusa. These observations indicate that the surface of H. obtusa changes during differentiation and the special tip develops in bacteria of buoyant density 1.13 g/ml.     

2 micrometer covalently closed non-mitochondrial circular DNA in the petite-negative yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Summary A population of small covalently closed non-mitochondrial circular DNA molecules was isolated from the petite-negative yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The mean length of these molecules, possessing the same density as nuclear DNA (1.695 g/ cm³) is 1.95±0.18 m. The presence of these minicircles in crude mitochondrial preparations indicates their tight association with mitochondrial particles. Their disappearance after DNase treatment of mitochondria demonstrates their extramitochondrial location.     

Decreased DNA content of birch (Betula) chromosomes at high ploidy as determined by cytophotometry

Relative amounts of DNA were determined on telophase nuclei by Feulgen cytophotometry for euploid taxa of birch (Betula) with somatic chromosome numbers of 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. A direct correlation was found between observed DNA absorbance and chromosome number except for plants of B. papyrifera with 84 somatic chromosomes. The DNA density value for nuclei of the 84-chromosome plants fitted a 12.25 ratio instead of the expected 13.0 ratio. The DNA density value for these plants was calculated to be approximately equivalent to plants which would possess 63 somatic chromosomes. The average DNA value per chromosome was 2.73 for the 84-chromosome plants in contrast to 3.50 per chromosome in each of the lower euploids. Nuclear diameters of the 84-chromosome plants were directly related to chromosome number and not to DNA density value. The genomic number of Betula was considered to be x=7, rather than x=14, since a DNA value equivalent to 63 chromosomes is a multiple of 7 and not 14. Diploid birch species (2n=2x=28), therefore, would actually be tetraploids (2n=4x=28). The reduction in DNA content may be an adaptation for the establishment of higher ploidy in birches.     

R-Plasmids in Pasteurella multocida.

Multiple drug-resistant strains of Pasteurella multocida were associated with a high incidence of fatal pneumonia in feedlot cattle. A representative strain, CAH160, resistant to tetracycline (Tc), streptomycin (Sm), and sulfonamide (Su) was studied. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Tc was 32 μg/ml while Sm had an MIC of 256 μg/ml. Plasmid DNA was isolated from CAH160 by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide centrifugation. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that at least three distinct species of plasmid DNA were present. DNA isolated from CAH160 was used to transform Escherichia coli K12 strain C600 r_k^?m_k^?. Transformants resistant to Tc; to Sm, Su; and to Tc, Sm, Su were obtained. Contour length measurements of plasmid DNA isolated from transformant cells showed that Tc resistance was associated with a 3-Mdal plasmid (pSR10), while Sm, Su resistance resided on a 2.7-Mdal molecule (pSR11). More than 20% of the transformants were resistant to Tc, Sm, Su and contained both plasmid species. In E. coli the MIC of Tc was 256 μg/ml and that of Sm was 64 μg/ml. The buoyant density of pSR10 was 1.699 g/cm³, while the density of pSR11 was 1.709 g/cm³.     

Sensitivity of selected members of the family Halobacteriaceae to quinolone antimicrobial compounds

Many members of the Halobacteriaceae are inhibited by quinolone compounds, which inhibit type II DNA topoisomerase. Ciprofloxacin was the most potent inhibitor, followed by ofloxacin and norfloxacin. Ciprofloxacin concentrations between 25 and 60 μg/ml caused 50% inhibition of the growth of most Haloferax and Haloarcula species. Halobacterium species were less sensitive. At sublethal concentrations, formation of elongated and/or swollen cells was observed in many species. The alkaliphilic Natronobacterium pharaonis was very sensitive (50% inhibition by ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin at concentrations between 4 and 15 μg/ml). The resistance of many members of the Halobacteriaceae to high concentrations of quinolone compounds may in part be due to the high magnesium concentrations present in the growth media. Haloferax volcanii was sensitive to 40 μg/ml ciprofloxacin when grown at suboptimal magnesium concentrations (0.1 M), but was hardly affected by 100 μg/ml of the inhibitor when grown in the presence of 0.5–0.75 M MgCl₂. It is suggested that the putative archaeal type II DNA topoisomerase has properties similar to those of the enzyme from Bacteria, although its sensitivity to quinolone antimicrobial compounds may be lower. Received: 6 November 1995 / Accepted: 26 February 1996     

Isolation of Kinetoplast-Mitochondrial Complexes from Leishmania tarentolae*

SYNOPSIS. Kinetoplast-mitochondrial complexes were liberated from Leishmania tarentolae by passing hypotonically swollen cells in dilute Tris-EDTA through a needle at 100 1bs/in². The complexes formed an equilibrium band by flotation in Renografin gradients at a density of 1.22 g/ml. The band was monitored by several mitochondrial and kinetoplastic markers: [³H]DNA, succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity, [⁵⁰Fe]hemoproteins and optical density at 600 nm. Electron microscopy showed that the sole component of the 1.22 g/ml band was the kinetoplast-mitochondrial complex.     

Physicochemical properties of fowlpox virus deoxyribonucleic acid and its anomalous infectious behavior

Randall, Charles C. (University of Mississippi, Jackson), Lanelle G. Gafford, Richard L. Soehner, and James M. Hyde. Physicochemical properties of fowlpox virus deoxyribonucleic acid and its anomalous infectious behavior. J. Bacteriol. 91:95-100. 1966.-Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from fowlpox virus-infected tissue, purified inclusions, and purified virus by five variations of detergent and phenol methods. Phenol methods gave a poor yield, whereas detergent techniques extracted up to 78% of the DNA. The buoyant density was 1.695 g/ml, and the melting temperature in 7.2 m NaClO(4) was 39 C, both approximately equivalent to a guanine plus cytosine content of 35 moles per cent. Further proof of the double-stranded nature of the DNA was shown by the characteristic behavior toward deoxyribonuclease, formaldehyde, and heat. Infectious DNA was obtained by the various methods described, but this manifestation of biological activity was capricious and for unknown reasons was often not evident. The infectivity could not be related quantitatively to the amount of DNA employed. Furthermore, the infectious nature of fowlpox virus DNA was demonstrable only when the route of infection was the chorioallantoic membrane. In contrast, whole virus infected both membrane and chick skin with equal efficiency.     

Subcellular Localization of the Enzymes of the Arginine Dihydrolase Pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus

The enzymes of the arginine dihydrolase pathway were demonstrated in Tritrichomonas foetus and their subcellular localization determined for both T. foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ornithine carbamyltransferase (anabolic and catabolic activities), ornithine decarboxylase and carbamate kinase activity were localized predominately (56–80%) in the non sedimentable fraction of both species. A large proportion (35–40%) of the arginine deiminase was, however, recovered in the large granular fraction, and this distribution was unchanged by increasing the ionic strength of the buffer. Upon density gradient centrifugation the particles containing arginine deiminase activity had an isopycnic density of 1.09 g/ml in percoll, and separated from hydrogenosomes (1.18 g/ml) and lysosomes (1.12 g/ml). Arginine deiminase was also the only enzyme of the dihydrolase pathway which demonstrated latency upon treatment of the 1.09 g/ml fraction with non-ionic detergents. The results demonstrate the presence of the arginine dihydrolase pathway in T. foetus and indicate that at least a portion of the arginine deiminase in trichomonads is membrane associated.     

Simultaneous banding of rat embryo DNA, RNA, and protein in cesium trifluoroacetate gradients

A procedure for the simultaneous banding of cellular DNA, RNA, and protein by centrifugation in cesium trifluoroacetate (CsTFA) gradients is described. Starting with homogenates of Day 11 rat embryos, this procedure was used to separate total DNA, RNA, and protein. Under the conditions used DNA banded at a peak density of 1.63 g/ml, RNA at a peak density of 1.83 g/ml, and protein at a peak density of 1.40 g/ml. Nucleic acids isolated from CsTFA gradients were judged to be protein free. RNA isolated by this method is apparently free of DNA contamination; however, DNA isolated by this method does contain some RNA (less than 5% contamination).