Mammalian cyclin/PCNA (DNA polymerase delta auxiliary protein) stimulates processive DNA synthesis by yeast DNA polymerase III.

Human cyclin/PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) is structurally, functionally, and immunologically homologous to the calf thymus auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta. This auxiliary protein has been investigated as a stimulatory factor for the nuclear DNA polymerases from S. cerevisiae. Calf cyclin/PCNA enhances by more than ten-fold the ability of DNA polymerase III to replicate templates with high template/primer ratios, e.g. poly(dA).oligo(dT) (40:1). The degree of stimulation increases with the template/primer ratio. At a high template/primer ratio, i.e. low primer density, cyclin/PCNA greatly increases processive DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase III. At low template/primer ratios (e.g. poly(dA).oligo(dT) (2.5:1), where addition of cyclin/PCNA only minimally increases the processivity of DNA polymerase III, a several-fold stimulation of total DNA synthesis is still observed. This indicates that cyclin/PCNA may also increase productive binding of DNA polymerase III to the template-primer and stabilize the template-primer-polymerase complex. The activity of yeast DNA polymerases I and II is not affected by addition of cyclin/PCNA. These results strengthen the hypothesis that yeast DNA polymerase III is functionally analogous to the mammalian DNA polymerase delta.     

Characterization of a stable, major DNA polymerase alpha species devoid of DNA primase activity.

We have purified from Xenopus laevis ovaries a major DNA polymerase alpha species that lacked DNA primase activity. This primase-devoid DNA polymerase alpha species exhibited the same sensitivity as the DNA polymerase DNA primase alpha to BuAdATP and BuPdGTP, nucleotide analogs capable of distinguishing between DNA polymerase delta and DNA polymerase DNA primase alpha. The primase-devoid DNA polymerase alpha species also lacked significant nuclease activity indicative of the alpha-like (rather than delta-like) nature of the DNA polymerase. Using a poly(dT) template, the primase-devoid DNA polymerase alpha species elongated an oligo(rA10) primer up to 51-fold more effectively than an oligo(dA10) primer. In direct contrast, the DNA polymerase DNA primase alpha complex showed only a 4.6-fold preference for oligoribonucleotide primers at the same template/primer ratio. The catalytic differences between the two DNA polymerase alpha species were most dramatic at a template/primer ratio of 300. The primase-devoid DNA polymerase alpha species was found at high levels throughout oocyte and embryonic development. This suggests that the primase-devoid DNA polymerase alpha species could play a physiological role during DNA chain elongation in vivo, even if it is chemically related to DNA polymerase DNA primase alpha.     

黄皮SRAP反应体系优化正交实验研究

以黄皮(Clausena lansium)‘甜黄皮’品种为试材,利用正交设计L₁₆(4⁵)对黄皮SRAP-PCR反应体系中的5因素(Taq聚合酶、Mg²⁺、模板DNA、dNTPs、引物)在4个水平上进行优化试验。结果表明,不同因素对黄皮SRAP反应体系影响从大到小的顺序为:Mg²⁺和Taq聚合酶> 模板DNA> 引物> dNTPs;初步确立了适合黄皮的SRAP-PCR扩增体系为:在25 μl反应体系中,包括10×PCR buffer 2.5 μl、Taq DNA聚合酶0.75U、Mg²⁺ 2.0 mmol/L、模板DNA 60 ng、dNTPs 0.2 mmol/L、引物0.2 μmol/L。     

Dimerization of the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I is linked to its mode of DNA binding

Upon associating with a proofreading polymerase, the nascent 3' end of a DNA primer/template has two possible fates. Depending upon its suitability as a substrate for template-directed extension or postsynthetic repair, it will bind either to the 5'-3' polymerase active site, yielding a polymerizing complex, or to the 3'-5' exonuclease site, yielding an editing complex. In this investigation, we use a combination of biochemical and biophysical techniques to probe the stoichiometry, thermodynamic, and kinetic stability of the polymerizing and editing complexes. We use the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (KF) as a model proofreading polymerase and oligodeoxyribonucleotide primer/templates as model DNA substrates. Polymerizing complexes are produced by mixing KF with correctly base paired (matched) primer/templates, whereas editing complexes are produced by mixing KF with multiply mismatched primer/templates. Electrophoretic mobility shift titrations carried out with matched and multiply mismatched primer/templates give rise to markedly different electrophoretic patterns. In the case of the matched primer/template, the KF.DNA complex is represented by a slow moving band. However, in the case of the multiply mismatched primer/template, the complex is predominantly represented by a fast moving band. Analytical ultracentrifugation measurements indicate that the fast and slow moving bands correspond to 1:1 and 2:1 KF.DNA complexes, respectively. Fluorescence anisotropy titrations reveal that KF binds with a higher degree of cooperativity to the matched primer/template. Taken together, these results indicate that KF is able to dimerize on a DNA primer/template and that dimerization is favored when the first molecule is bound in the polymerizing mode, but disfavored when it is bound in the editing mode. We suggest that self-association of the polymerase may play an important and as yet unexplored role in coordinating high-fidelity DNA replication.     

扩增条件对茶类植物RAPD带的影响

采用梯度分析的方法试验了模板ＤＮＡ、引物、镁离子、ｄＮＴＰ和Ｔａｑ酶的浓度对茶类植物进行ＲＡＰＤ分析中ＤＮＡ扩增结果的影响。实验表明这些条件的变化对扩增出来的ＲＡＰＤ带的数目和强弱会产生影响。经过比较分析,筛选出对于茶类植物进行ＲＡＰＤ分析较理想的扩增条件：２．０ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＭｇＣｌ２,２００ｕｍｏｌ／ＬｄＮＴＰ,１５ｎｇ引物／２０ｕｌ反应体积,４ｎｇ模板ＤＮＡ／ｕｌ反应体积,１ＵＴａｑ酶／２０ｕｌ反应体积。     

DNA聚合酶与引物/模板的相互作用对PCR效率的影响

PCR是体外酶促合成特异DNA片段的一种方法,引物的优劣直接关系到PCR的特异性与成功与否。传统的PCR引物设计软件基本上忽略了DNA聚合酶与引物/模板的亲和性对PCR效率的影响。为揭示DNA聚合酶与引物/模板的相互作用是否对PCR的效率有影响,通过构建Taq DNA 聚合酶与不同序列引物/模板DNA相互作用的三维结构模型,采用MM/GBSA方法计算复合物的结合自由能,以结合自由能为参数,为人血清白蛋白基因(Human Serum Albumin gene,HSA gene)和结核杆菌pyrF基因(Mycobacterium tuberculosis pyrF gene)设计了PCR引物。PCR实验结果表明,引物的PCR效率与结合自由能相关：引物与聚合酶的结合自由能越低,PCR实验的效率相对越高。这说明DNA聚合酶与引物/模板的相互作用对PCR效率有重要影响。因此,引物/模板DNA与聚合酶的结合自由能可以作为PCR引物设计的新参数。     

DNA polymerase alpha cofactors C1C2 function as primer recognition proteins

Most, if not all, of the DNA polymerase alpha activity in monkey and human cells was complexed with at least two proteins, C1 and C2, that together stimulated the activity of this enzyme from 180- to 1800-fold on low concentrations of denatured DNA, parvovirus DNA, M13, and phi X174 DNA or RNA-primed DNA templates, and poly(dT):oligo(dA) or oligo(rA). These primer-template combinations, which have from 200 to 5000 bases of template/primer, were then 7- to 50-fold more effective as substrates than DNase I-activated DNA. C1C2 specifically stimulated alpha polymerase, and only from the same cell type. Alpha X C1C2-polymerase reconstituted from purified alpha polymerase and the C1C2 cofactor complex behaved the same as native alpha X C1C2-polymerase and C1C2 had no effect on the sensitivity of alpha polymerase to aphidicolin, dideoxythymidine triphosphate, and N-ethylmaleimide. In the presence of substrates with a high ratio of single-stranded DNA template to either DNA or RNA primar, C1C2 increased the rate of DNA synthesis by decreasing the Km for the DNA substrate, decreasing the Km for the primer itself, increasing the use of shorter primers, and stimulating incorporation of the first deoxyribonucleotide. In contrast, C1C2 had no effect on the Km values for deoxyribonucleotide substrates (which were about 150-fold higher than for DNA replication in isolated nuclei), the ability of specific DNA sequences to arrest alpha polymerase, or the processivity of alpha polymerase. Accordingly, C1C2 function as primer recognition proteins. However, C1C2 did not reduce the comparatively high Km values or stimulate DNA synthesis by alpha polymerase on lambda DNA ends and DNase I-activated DNA, substrates with 12 and about 30-70 bases of template/primer, respectively. DNA restriction fragments with 1 to 4 bases of template/primer were substrates for neither alpha nor alpha X C1C2-polymerase. Therefore, we propose that C1C2 enhances the ability of alpha polymerase to initiate DNA synthesis by eliminating nonproductive binding of the enzyme to single-stranded DNA, allowing it to slide along the template until it recognizes a primer.     

Human DNA polymerase lambda possesses terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase activity and can elongate RNA primers: implications for novel functions

DNA polymerase lambda is a novel enzyme of the family X of DNA polymerases. The recent demonstration of an intrinsic 5'-deoxyribose-5'-phosphate lyase activity, a template/primer dependent polymerase activity, a distributive manner of DNA synthesis and sequence similarity to DNA polymerase beta suggested a novel beta-like enzyme. All these properties support a role of DNA polymerase lambda in base excision repair. On the other hand, the biochemical properties of the polymerisation activity of DNA polymerase lambda are still largely unknown. Here we give evidence that human DNA polymerase lambda has an intrinsic terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase activity that preferentially adds pyrimidines onto 3'OH ends of DNA oligonucleotides. Furthermore, human DNA polymerase lambda efficiently elongates an RNA primer hybridized to a DNA template. These two novel properties of human DNA polymerase lambda might suggest additional roles for this enzyme in DNA replication and repair processes.     

正交设计优化东亚砂藓DDRT-PCR反应体系

利用正交实验设计L25（5^6）对东亚砂藓（Racomitrium japonicum）DDRT—PCR反应体系的6因素（Mg^2＋、dNTP、锚定引物、随机引物、模板DNA、Taq酶）在5个水平上进行优化实验。结果筛选出各反应因素的最佳体系（20μL）为：Mg^2＋2．25mmol／L、dNTP0．4mmol／L、锚定引物1．0μmol／L、随机引物0．7μmol／L、模板DNA1．6μL、Taq酶2．5U。对东亚砂藓DDRT—PCR最佳反应体系进行梯度PCR引物退火温度筛选,得到的最佳退火温度为45．4℃。该优化体系的建立,为进一步进行东亚砂藓抗旱基因的筛选与克隆等一系列分子研究提供了重要参考依据。     

荔枝DNA提取及RAPD扩增条件优化

为应用RAPD技术开展对荔枝种质资源的分析,以S43(GTCGCCGTCA)为引物,通过试验设计,分别研究了退火温度、模板浓度、引物浓度、dNTP浓度、Taq DNA聚合酶用量对荔枝RAPD-PCR反应的影响。建立并优化了适宜荔枝RAPD分析的扩增体系:20μL的反应体系,30ng的模板DNA度,0.25μmol/LRAPD引物、1.0UTaqDNA聚合酶,0.2μmol/LdNTP为荔枝适宜的RAPD-PCR扩增条件。     

Thermodynamic dissection of the polymerizing and editing modes of a DNA polymerase

DNA polymerases with intrinsic proofreading activity interact with DNA primer/templates in two distinct modes, corresponding to the complexes formed during the 5'-3' polymerization or 3'-5' editing of a nascent DNA chain. Thermodynamic measurements designed to quantify the energetic contributions of individual DNA-protein contacts in either the polymerizing or editing complexes are complicated by the fact that both species exist in solution and are not resolved in conventional DNA-protein binding assays. To overcome this problem, we have developed a new binding analysis that combines information from steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence experiments and uses the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (KF) and fluorescently labeled primer/template oligonucleotides as a model polymerase-DNA system. Steady-state fluorescence titrations are used to evaluate the overall affinity of KF for the primer/template, while time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy is used to quantify the equilibrium fractions of the primer/template bound in the polymerizing and editing modes. From a combined analysis of both data, the equilibrium constant and hence standard free energy change associated with each binding mode can be obtained unequivocally. This method is initially used to determine the equilibrium constants describing binding of a correctly base-paired primer/template to the 5'-3' polymerase and 3'-5' exonuclease sites of KF. It is then extended to quantify the extent to which these parameters are affected by the introduction of mismatches into the primer/template, and by rearrangement of specific side-chains in the exonuclease domain of the protein. While these perturbants were originally designed to demonstrate the utility of our new approach, they are also relevant in their own right since they have helped identify some hitherto unknown determinants of polymerase fidelity.     

葡萄ISSR-PCR反应体系的建立与优化

采用正交设计L9(34)对影响葡萄ISSR-PCR反应体系的4个因素(dNTP、TaqDNA聚合酶、引物、模板DNA)在3个浓度水平上进行试验,并通过直观分析初步确定其反应体系;在此基础上,通过单因素试验探讨了dNTP、TaqDNA聚合酶、引物、模板DNA、退火温度及循环次数等因素或条件对葡萄ISSR-PCR扩增结果的影响,确定最佳反应水平。最终建立了葡萄ISSR-PCR扩增的最佳反应体系:在25μL的反应体系中,dNTP浓度0.2 mmol/L,TaqDNA聚合酶的用量0.5 U,引物浓度0.4mmol/L,DNA模板用量40 ng。反应程序:94℃预变性5 min;94℃变性1 min,52℃退火1 min,72℃延伸1 min 30 s,40次循环;最后72℃延伸10 min,10℃保存。     

Apparent stimulation of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha by ATP.

The mechanism by which millimolar concentrations of ATP stimulate the activity and increase the processivity of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha has been investigated with poly(dA)/oligo(dT) as template/primer to eliminate possible effects due to primer synthesis. The effect of ATP on the rate of DNA synthesis with this template/primer was found to be dependent upon whether or not the ATP was neutralized and the species of buffer used in the reaction. The present studies suggest that ATP stimulation of calf thymus DNA polymerase can be attributed to changes in the pH of the reaction mixture, a shift in the magnesium ion optimum, or both. Furthermore, effects of ATP on the processivity of DNA polymerase alpha could be mimicked by lowering the pH of the reaction mixture.     

An auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase-delta from fetal calf thymus

An auxiliary protein which affects the ability of calf thymus DNA polymerase-delta to utilize template/primers containing long stretches of single-stranded template has been purified to homogeneity from the same tissue. The auxiliary protein coelutes with DNA polymerase-delta on DEAE-cellulose and phenyl-agarose chromatography but is separated from the polymerase on phosphocellulose chromatography. The physical and functional properties of the auxiliary protein strongly resemble those of the beta subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. A molecular weight of 75,000 has been calculated from a sedimentation coefficient of 5.0 s and a Stokes radius of 36.5 A. A single band of 37,000 daltons is seen on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, suggesting that the protein exists as a dimer of identical subunits. The purified protein has no detectable DNA polymerase, primase, ATPase, or nuclease activity. The ability of DNA polymerase-delta to replicate gapped duplex DNA is relatively unaffected by the presence of the auxiliary protein, however, it is required to replicate templates with low primer/template ratios, e.g. poly(dA)/oligo(dT) (20:1), primed M13 DNA, and denatured calf thymus DNA. The auxiliary protein is specific for DNA polymerase-delta; it has no effect on the activity of calf thymus DNA polymerase-alpha or the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I with primed homopolymer templates. Although the auxiliary protein does not bind to either single-stranded or double-stranded DNA, it does increase the binding of DNA polymerase-delta to poly(dA)/oligo(dT), suggesting that the auxiliary protein interacts with the polymerase in the presence of template/primer, stabilizing the polymerase-template/primer complex.     

DNA polymerase switching: II. Replication factor C abrogates primer synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha at a critical length

A crucial event in DNA replication is the polymerase switch from the synthesis of a short RNA/DNA primer by DNA polymerase alpha/primase to the pro?cessive elongation by DNA polymerase delta. In order to shed light on the role of replication factor C (RF-C) in this process, the effects of RF-C on DNA polymerase alpha were investigated. We show that RF-C stalls DNA polymerase alpha after synthesis of approximately 30 nucleotides, while not inhibiting the polymerase activity per se. This suggested that RF-C and the length of the primer may be two important factors contributing to the polymerase switch. Furthermore the DNA binding properties of RF-C were tested. Band shift experiments indicated that RF-C has a preference for 5' recessed ends and double-stranded DNA over 3' ends. Finally PCNA can be loaded onto a DNA template carrying a RNA primer, suggesting that a DNA moiety is not necessarily required for the loading of the clamp. Thus we propose a model where RF-C, upon binding to the RNA/DNA primer, influences primer synthesis and sets the conditions for a polymerase switch after recruiting PCNA to DNA.     

怀地黄SRAP扩增体系的建立与引物的筛选

为建立适合怀地黄SRAP-PCR分子标记技术体系,通过单因子实验分别研究了DNA模板浓度、TaqDNA聚合酶浓度、Mg2+浓度、引物浓度以及dNTP浓度对怀地黄SRAP扩增反应的影响,确立了适合怀地黄SRAP最佳反应体系为:在25μL的反应体系中,模板DNA量20ng/25μL、2.5mmol/LMg2+、0.32μmol/L的上下游引物、0.30μmol/L的dNTP以及2.5UTaq酶,并利用确定的体系从88个引物组合中筛选出12对适合怀地黄SRAP-PCR反应的引物。     

Loss of DNA minor groove interactions by exonuclease-deficient Klenow polymerase inhibits O6-methylguanine and abasic site translesion synthesis

The importance of DNA polymerase-DNA minor groove interactions on translesion synthesis (TLS) was examined in vitro using variants of exonuclease-deficient Klenow polymerase and site-specifically modified DNA oligonucleotides. Polymerase variant R668A lacks primer strand interactions, while variant Q849A lacks template strand interactions. O(6)-Methylguanine (m6G) and abasic site TLS was examined in three stages: dNTP insertion opposite the lesion, extension from a terminal lesion-containing base pair, and the dissociation equilibrium of the polymerase from the lesion-containing template. Less than 5% TLS was observed at the insertion step for either variant on the lesion-containing templates. While extensive TLS was observed for WT polymerase on the m6G template, only incorporation opposite the lesion was observed for the R668A variant. Loss of the template strand interaction, Q849A, resulted in the inability to insert dNTPs opposite either the m6G or abasic lesion. For both variants, extension of purine-containing m6G primer-templates was increased relative to WT polymerase. We observed similar extension efficiencies for all variants, relative to WT, using abasic template-primers. Polymerase dissociation/reassociation was studied through the use of a competitor primer/template complex. Dissociation for WT polymerase increased 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively, for m6G and abasic lesion-containing templates, relative to the natural template. Variants lacking DNA minor groove interactions displayed increased dissociation from DNA templates, relative to WT polymerase, but do not display an increased level of lesion-induced polymerase dissociation. Our results indicate that the primer and template strand interactions of the Klenow polymerase with the DNA minor groove are critical for maintaining the DNA-polymerase complex during translesion synthesis.     

Initiation of DNA replication by DNA polymerases from primers forming a triple helix

Despite extensive studies on oligonucleotide-forming triple helices, which were discovered in 1957, their possible relevance in the initiation of DNA replication remains unknown. Using sequences forming triple helices, we have developed a DNA polymerisation assay by using hairpin DNA templates with a 3′ dideoxynucleotide end and an unpaired 5′-end extension to be replicated. The T7 DNA polymerase successfully elongated nucleotides to the expected size of the template from the primers forming triple helices composed of 9–14 deoxyguanosine-rich residues. The triple helix-forming primer required for this reaction has to be oriented parallel to the homologous sequence of the hairpin DNA template. Substitution of the deoxyguanosine residues by N7 deazadeoxyguanosines in the hairpin of the template prevented primer elongation, suggesting that the formation of a triple helix is a prerequisite for primer elongation. Furthermore, DNA sequencing could be achieved with the hairpin template through partial elongation of the third DNA strand forming primer. The T4 DNA polymerase and the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I provided similar DNA elongation to the T7 polymerase–thioredoxin complex. On the basis of published crystallographic data, we show that the third DNA strand primer fits within the catalytic centre of the T7 DNA polymerase, thus underlying this new property of several DNA polymerases which may be relevant to genome rearrangements and to the evolution of the genetic apparatus, namely the DNA structure and replication processes.     

怀地黄ISSR扩增条件优化的研究

用CTAB法提取怀地黄嫩叶DNA,进行简单重复间序列标记(ISSR)分析.通过单因子实验分别研究了退火温度、Taq酶单位、Mg2+浓度、dNTP浓度、引物浓度和模板DNA浓度对ISSR-PCR反应的影响,找出各自的合适条件,而且每一个合适条件确定以后都被作为后续研究的一个条件.通过各个因子的组合研究建立了适宜于怀地黄ISSR分析的扩增体系25 μL PCR反应体积,1×Taq DNA酶缓冲液(10 mmol/L Tris-HCl,50 mmol/L KCl,0.1% Trion X-100,pH9.0 ),2.5 mmol/L MgCl2,1.5～1.0 U Taq酶,60 ng模板DNA,0.4 μmmol/L引物,各0.4 mmol/L的dATP、dGTP、dCTP和dTTP.合适的退火温度为53～55℃.为用ISSR技术分析鉴定怀地黄种质资源奠定了良好的基础.     

唐古特大黄ISSR-PCR反应条件的优化

利用单因素试验对影响唐古特大黄ISSR-PCR扩增的重要参数进行优化,以期建立其最佳反应条件。结果如下:20μL反应体系包括1.5×PCR buffer(15mmol/LTris-HCl,75mmol/LKCl),1.00mmol/LMgCl2,0.6UTaq DNA聚合酶,0.125mmol/LdNTP,0.5μmol/L引物和30ng模板DNA;引物UBC888适宜的退火温度为57.4℃。ISSR反应条件的建立为利用分子标记技术研究唐古特大黄居群遗传多样性奠定了良好基础。