Enzymatic initiation of DNA synthesis by yeast DNA polymerases.

Partially purified yeast RNA polymerases (RNA nucleotidyltransferases) initiate DNA synthesis by yeast DNA polymerase (DNA nucleotidyltransferase) I and to a lesser extent yeast DNA polymerase II in the replication of single-stranded DNA. The enzymatic initiation of DNA synthesis on phage fd DNA template occurs with dNTPs alone and is further stimulated by the presence of rNTPs in DNA polymerase I reactions. The presence of rNTPs has no effect on the RNA polymerase initiation of the DNA polymerase II reaction. RNA polymerases I and III are more efficient in initiation of DNA synthesis than RNA polymerase II. Analyses of the products of fd DNA replication show noncovalent linkage between the newly synthesized DNA and the template DNA, and covalent linkage between the newly synthesized RNA and DNA.     

Okazaki fragment processing: Modulation of the strand displacement activity of DNA polymerase δ by the concerted action of replication protein A, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and flap endonuclease-1

DNA polymerase (pol) delta is essential for both leading and lagging strand DNA synthesis during chromosomal replication in eukaryotes. Pol delta has been implicated in the Okazaki fragment maturation process for the extension of the newly synthesized fragment and for the displacement of the RNA/DNA segment of the preexisting downstream fragment generating an intermediate flap structure that is the target for the Dna2 and flap endonuclease-1 (Fen 1) endonucleases. Using a single-stranded minicircular template with an annealed RNA/DNA primer, we could measure strand displacement by pol delta coupled to DNA synthesis. Our results suggested that pol delta alone can displace up to 72 nucleotides while synthesizing through a double-stranded DNA region in a distributive manner. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) reduced the template dissociation rate of pol delta, thus increasing the processivity of both synthesis and strand displacement, whereas replication protein A (RP-A) limited the size of the displaced fragment down to 20-30 nucleotides, by generating a "locked" flap DNA structure, which was a substrate for processing of the displaced fragment by Fen 1 into a ligatable product. Our data support a model for Okazaki fragment processing where the strand displacement activity of DNA polymerase delta is modulated by the concerted action of PCNA, RP-A and Fen 1.     

Elongation of primed DNA templates by eukaryotic DNA polymerases.

The combined action of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA polymerase beta leads to the synthesis of full-length linear DNA strands with phi X174 DNA templates containing an RNA primer. The reaction can be carried out in two stages. In the first stage, DNA polymerase alpha catalyzes the synthesis of a chain that averaged 230 deoxynucleotides long and was covalently linked to the RNA primer. In the second stage, DNA polymerase beta elongates the DNA strand covalently attached to the RNA primer to full length. With DNA primers, DNA polymerase alpha catalyzes only limited deoxynucleotide addition whereas DNA polymerase beta alone elongates DNA primed templates to full length. DNA polymerase beta can also stimulate the synthesis of adenovirus DNA in vitro in the presence of a cytosol extract from adenovirus-infected cells. In all of these systems, dNMP incorporation catalyzed by DNA polymerase beta was sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide; however, this polymerase activity was resistant to N-ethylmaleimide with poly(rA) x (dT) as the primer template.     

Increased frequency of initiation of RNA synthesis due to a protein factor from chicken myeloblastosis nuclei.

The mechanism of the effect of an RNA polymerase II (RNA nucleotidyltransferase II) stimulation factor isolated from the nuclei of chicken myeloblastosis cells was studied. The stimulation requires the presence of all four nucleoside triphosphates and depends upon an exogenous DNA template. In the absence of the factor, RNA synthesis ceases after 20-30 min, but in the presence of the factor, synthesis continues up to 60-80 min. Addition of the factor at 35 min after incubation causes resumption of RNA synthesis. The factor greatly stimulates the activity of RNA polymerase II at low enzyme concentrations. The RNA polymerase activity is more sensitive to alpha-amanitin inhibition when the factor is present. Experiments of [gamma-32P]ATP incorporation reveal that the factor provides for an increased frequency of initiation of RNA chains, both of the primary initiation events and re-initiation after previous ones were completed. A slightly higher rate of RNA chain growth was also observed with this factor but the ultimate size of RNA synthesized was not affected, as determined by formaldehyde/sucrose gradient centrifugation. These data suggest that the factor functions at the initiation stages of the RNA polymerase reaction.     

De novo synthesis of a polymer of deoxyadenylate and deoxythymidylate by calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha.

In a reaction mixture containing calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha (DNA nucleotidyltransferase; deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase; EC 2.7.7.7), calf thymus DNA unwinding protein, DNA, deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate and deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, a copolymer of deoxyadenylate and deoxythymidylate is synthesized after a lag period of 1-2 hr. In the presence of the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates only deoxyadenylate and deoxythymidylate are incorporated into the polymer and the rate of synthesis is decreased. The reaction variably occurs in the absence of DNA or DNA unwinding protein but with a greatly entended lag period. The optimal Mg2+ concentration for synthesis of the polymer of deoxyadenylate and deoxythymidylate is 1 mM, in contrast to an optimal Mg2+ concentration of 8 mM for DNA synthesis with activated DNA as template. Characterization of the product of de novo synthesis indicates that it is the alternating copolymer, poly(dA-dT).     

Initiation, Release, and Reinitiation of RNA Chains by Bacteriophage-T3-Induced Polymerase from T3 DNA Templates

Bacteriophage T3-induced RNA polymerase, upon copying its specific template, native T3 DNA, initiates RNA chains only with GTP. Denaturation of the DNA results in loss of template specificity for the polymerase. With denatured T3 DNA as template, T3 polymerase initiates RNA chains with both ATP and GTP, and the average length of the resulting RNA chains is markedly reduced. Studies of the polymerase reaction with native T3 DNA in vitro show that T3 polymerase is able to terminate RNA synthesis with the release of RNA chains from the template DNA. Polymerase is also released in the process and, acting catalytically, reinitiates new RNA chains. Many moles of RNA chains are thus formed per mole of polymerase added to the reaction mixture.     

Reticulocyte RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

A cytoplasmic, microsomal bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been purified 2500-fold from rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The synthesis of RNA with the purified enzyme is absolutely dependent on the addition of an RNA template. The best template is hemoglobin messenger RNA, while bacteriophage RNA and poly(A,G) are less active, and DNA is completely inactive as a template. With poly(A,G) as a template, only UTP and CTP are incorporated into polynucleotide chains, indicating that the RNA polymerase is an RNA replicase and not a terminal transferase. With messenger RNA as a template, all four ribonucleoside triphosphates are required for maximal activity. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase reaction is extremely sensitive to low concentrations of heme, rifamycin AF/013, and ribonuclease and resistant to actinomycin D and DNase. The discovery of RNA-directed RNA synthesis in reticulocytes offers an additional site for control of gene expression in mammalian cells and provides a possible mechanism for amplification of the expression of specific genes.     

Use of DNA Polymerase I Primed by a Synthetic Oligonucleotide to Determine a Nucleotide Sequence in Phage f1 DNA

A sequence of 50 residues in f1 DNA has been determined by the extension of a chemically synthesized octadeoxyribonucleotide by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, with radioactive nucleoside triphosphates and f1 DNA template. The polymerized product was synthesized either in the presence of manganese and a mixture of ribo- and deoxyribotriphosphates or in a magnesium-containing reaction with one or more of the four triphosphates absent. The sequence determination depended largely on fractionation of the polymerized products by two-dimensional "homochromatography." This approach and the techniques for the subsequent sequence analysis should be of general use for determining other sequences of DNA. Several features of this sequence suggest that it is located in an intercistronic region of f1 DNA.     

DNA-DEPENDENT SYNTHESIS OF RNA BY Escherichia coli RNA POLYMERASE: RELEASE AND REINITIATION OF RNA CHAINS FROM DNA TEMPLATES

RNA synthesis in an in vitro RNA polymerase system at low ionic strength soon ceases, due to inhibition by accumulated RNA. Measurement of RNA chain initiation by the incorporation of gamma-(32)P-ATP and GTP with native T2 or T4 DNA as template shows that only one RNA chain is formed per molecule of enzyme added. In contrast, when the polymerase reaction is carried out in 10 mM Mg(++) and 0.2 M KCl, RNA synthesis proceeds nearly linearly for hours, resulting in a marked increase in accumulated RNA. Incorporation of gamma-(32)P-ATP also proceeds throughout the course of the reaction and the number of chains initiated per molecule of enzyme is increased severalfold. Most RNA chains formed are released from the DNA template as free RNA. Polymerase is released also in this process and acting catalytically reinitiates new chains. Rifampicin inhibits initiation of RNA synthesis and also blocks reinitiation of RNA chains without affecting growth of RNA chains already initiated.     

RNA-Primed DNA Synthesis In Vitro

In vitro DNA synthesis on single-stranded circular DNA can be initiated by RNA primers. RNA chains are covalently extended by DNA polymerase II from KB cells and DNA polymerase I from Micrococcus luteus, but not by an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus. The reaction product consists of DNA chains with a piece of RNA at their 5'-ends, hydrogen bonded to the template DNA. The primer RNA is linked to the product DNA via a 3':5'-phosphodiester bond, and can be specifically removed by ribonuclease H. The possible role of ribonuclease H in RNA-primed DNA synthesis in vivo is discussed.     

Migration of Escherichia coli dnaB protein on the template DNA strand as a mechanism in initiating DNA replication

The first step in conversion of varphiX174 singlestranded DNA to the duplex replicative form in vitro is the synthesis of a nucleoprotein intermediate [Weiner, J. H., McMacken, R. & Kornberg, A. (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73, 752-756]. We now demonstrate that dnaB protein (approximately one molecule per DNA circle) is an essential component of the intermediate and retains its ATPase activity. Synthesis of RNA primers, dependent on dnaG protein (primase), occurred only on DNA that had been converted to the intermediate form. In a coupled RNA priming-DNA replication reaction the first primer synthesized was extended by DNA polymerase III holoenzyme into full-length complementary strand DNA. In RNA priming uncoupled from replication, multiple RNA primers were initiated on a varphiX174 circle. The single dnaB protein molecule present on each DNA circle participated in initiation of each of the RNA primers, which appear to be aligned at regular intervals along the template strand. We propose that dnaB protein, once bound to the template, migrates in a processive fashion along the DNA strand, perhaps utilizing energy released by hydrolysis of ATP for propulsion; in this scheme the actively moving dnaB protein acts as a "mobile promoter" signal for dnaG protein (primase) to produce many RNA primers. Schemes are proposed for participation of dnaB protein both in the initiation of replication at the origin of the Escherichia coli chromosome and in the initiation of primers for nascent (Okazaki) fragments at a replication fork.