Extra components in kinetoplast DNA preparations from Crithidiafasciculata

Kinetoplast DNA from the order Kinetoplastidae (trypanosomatids) exists as large associations (molecular weight 4 × 10¹⁰), made up of about 104 small, probably circular, molecules, commonly known as ‘minicircles’. These minicircles were originally thought to be identical in base composition, suggesting that the coding capacity of kinetoplast DNA is very restricted. However, linear molecules have also been observed in preparations of kinetoplast DNA, which, if they contain unique sequences, could represent additional genetic information. This linear DNA has been assumed to be derived from the kinetoplast, but the possibility of it being nuclear contamination has not been definitely ruled out. Work presented in this paper demonstrates that nuclear DNA contamination may indeed be present in kinetoplast DNA prepared by a commonly used method.