Palindromic sequences in heteroduplex DNA inhibit mismatch repair in yeast

Although single heterozygous markers in yeast usually segregate during meiosis in a 2:2 ratio, abberant 3:1 segregations occur quite frequently as a result of gene-conversion events. A second type of aberrant segregation, post-meiotic segregation, results from the segregation of two genotypes from a single haploid spore; in yeast such events are detected as sectored spore colonies and usually occur rarely. Post-meiotic segregation is thought to result from the replication of heteroduplex DNA formed during meiotic recombination. We report here that if the heteroduplex includes a palindromic insertion sequence, a high frequency of post-meiotic segregation results. This suggests that palindromic insertions are poorly repaired, which may be the result of hairpin-loop formation that affects the efficiency of repair of heteroduplex DNA.     

Mismatch-specific post-meiotic segregation frequency in yeast suggests a heteroduplex recombination intermediate

Post-meiotic segregation of alleles, which is seen, for example, in the 5:3 distribution of alleles in the products of a single meiosis in fungi, has been thought to be due to the non-repair of heteroduplex regions formed during genetic recombination. In current models of genetic recombination, heteroduplex DNA is formed either as the primary intermediate generated by two interacting non-sister chromatids or as a short region flanking a double-stranded gap. The frequency of post-meiotic segregation differs for different alleles, and this is presumed to reflect the varying efficiencies with which different types of mismatches in the heteroduplex are repaired. To gain some insight into this process, we have now determined the nucleotide sequences of various yeast alleles with different post-meiotic segregation frequencies and compared the mismatches predicted to occur in heteroduplexes of these alleles with wild-type DNA with those repaired with varying efficiency in bacterial systems. A striking correlation is observed, with the mismatches predicted for high post-meiotic segregation frequency alleles being similar to mismatches repaired with low efficiency in bacteria. These results support the view that postmeiotic segregation frequency reflects heteroduplex repair efficiency and the contention that meiotic gene conversion is the result of the successful repair of heteroduplex mismatches.     

Construction of heteroduplex DNA and<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> model for functional analysis of mismatch repair

Functional deficiency of mismatch repair (MMR) system is one of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. With the development of the investigation and the requirement from the clinical diagnosis and treatment it is necessary to build up a method to evaluate the functional status of the whole MMR system in the concerned tumors. The original ssDNA and dsDNA from wild type (wt) bacteriophage M13mp2 and its three derivates with mutation points in the lacZα gene have been used to construct two kinds of hetero-duplex DNA molecules. One named del(2) has two bases deleted in the negative strand, the other has a G·G mismatch base pair in the negative strand too. Introducing this heteroduplex DNA into E. coli NR9162 (mutS-) without the MMR ability on the indicator plate with x-gal and IPTG, there are three kinds of plaques, mixture plaque as the characteristic phenotype of heteroduplex DNA, blue and clear plaques. If the cell extract is mismatch repair competent the percentage of the mixture plaque will decrease after incubation with these heteroduplex DNA, the repair efficiency is expressed in percentage as 100× (1 minus the ratio of percentages of mixture plaque obtained from the extract-treated sample and untreated samples), which can imply the functional status of MMR system of certain samples. After large T-antigen-dependent SV-40 DNA replication assay cell extract from TK6, a human lymphoblastoid B-cell lymphoma cell line with MMR ability, and Lovo, a human colonic carcinoma cell line with MMR deficiency have incubated with these heteroduplex DNA. The repair efficiency of TK6 to del(2) is more than 60%, to G-G is more than 50%. The Lovo efficiency to del(2) is less than 10%, to G-G is less than 20%. Therefore, in this in vitro model used for functional analysis of mismatch repair of heteroduplex DNA as the repair target, TK6 can serve as the control for MMR proficiency and Lovo as the control for MMR deficiency. Using this model the tumor tissue from a case of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (microsatellite instability high, MSI-H) was measured and lack of MMR ability was shown. And a case of sporadic rectal cancer (SRC) (microsatellite stability, MSS) maintains MMR proficiency. The results indicate that the model is sensitive and dependable. It could be used to measure the func- tion status of MMR system in tumor cell and/or tissues. This is a reliable method to investigate the mechanic of tumori-genesis. It is meaningful in the observation of the role of MMR in the initiation and progression of concerned tumors.     

A hybrid recognition sequence in a recombinant restriction enzyme and the evolution of DNA sequence specificity

Early attempts to generate new restriction specificities by recombination between allelic restriction-modification systems have been unsuccessful. Bullas et al. succeeded in isolating a new specificity, SQ, in Salmonella that they interpreted as being the result of a recombination event between the parental strains, Salmonella typhimurium and S. postdam, which encode the SB and SP restriction systems, respectively. This interpretation has recently been confirmed by DNA heteroduplex studies with the SB, SP and SQ structural genes. We have determined the DNA sequences recognized by the SB and SP enzymes and found that, like all type I restriction sequences, they are split into two specific domains by a spacer of nonspecific sequence that, for both SB and SP, is 6 base pairs (bp) long. We have now determined the sequence recognized by the recombinant SQ enzyme and find that it is a hybrid between the SB and SP sequences, containing one specific domain from each parental strain. This result implies that each of the two specific domains is recognized by a physically distinct part of the enzyme.     

An exonucleolytic activity of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease on 3' mispaired DNA

Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) is an essential enzyme in DNA base excision repair that cuts the DNA backbone immediately adjacent to the 5' side of abasic sites to facilitate repair synthesis by DNA polymerase beta (ref. 1). Mice lacking the murine homologue of APE1 die at an early embryonic stage. Here we report that APE1 has a DNA exonuclease activity on mismatched deoxyribonucleotides at the 3' termini of nicked or gapped DNA molecules. The efficiency of this activity is inversely proportional to the gap size in DNA. In a base excision repair system reconstituted in vitro, the rejoining of nicked mismatched DNA depended on the presence of APE1, indicating that APE1 may increase the fidelity of base excision repair and may represent a new 3' mispaired DNA repair mechanism. The exonuclease activity of APE1 can remove the anti-HIV nucleoside analogues 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and 2',3'-didehydro-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine from DNA, suggesting that APE1 might have an impact on the therapeutic index of antiviral compounds in this category.     

不同品种香菇交配型基因的鉴定

利用原生质法单核体亲本交配型极性标记法,成功地鉴定出香菇－栽培株（Ｓ）与２野生株 （Ｑ＆Ｈ）的 ４种孢子单核体标准交配型基因,并以具有交配型基因的香菇栽培株的 ４种孢子单核体 与香菇２野生株４种孢子单核体轮配,而鉴定出香菇２野生株的４种孢子单核体相对交配型基因, 为香菇的遗传研究提供了可靠的遗传标记．结果显示栽培株Ｓ的４种孢子单核体的交配型分别为 Ａ１Ｂ１、 Ａ２Ｂ２、 Ａ１Ｂ２与 Ａ２Ｂ１,野生株 Ｑ的 ４种孢子单核体的交配型为 Ａ３Ｂ３、 Ａ４Ｂ４、 Ａ３Ｂ４与 Ａ４Ｂ３,野生株 Ｈ４４种孢子单核体的交配型为Ａ５Ｂ５、Ａ６Ｂ６、Ａ５Ｂ６与Ａ６Ｂ５．     

Evidence for Base Substitutions and Repair of DNA Mismatch Damage Induced by Low Energy N^＋ Ion Beam Implantation in E. coli

Ever since the low energy N^ ion beam has been accepted, the mutations of ionizing radia-tion are attributable mainly to avoidance of DNA damages repair. Evidences based on in vivo proof results are limited. Using the E. coli wild type and mutator strains, the mutant frequencies suggest that base substitutions in rpoB gene are induced by the N^ implantation. A highly con-served region is selected to get the direct evidence for base substitutions by sequence of the high fi-delity PCR amplification products in mutants. Most of the mutants (90.9%, 40/44) have at least one base substitution in the amplification region. The evidences for CG to TA (55 %, 22/40), AT to GC (20%, 8/40) and TA to CG (5%, 2/40) transitions are identified. The transversions are AT to TA ( 15 %, 6/40) and GC to CG (5 %, 2/40). It is suggested that DNA cytosine methylase might play an important role in mismatch repair of DNA damage induced by N^ implantation by analysis of the mutant frequencies of mutator strains.     

Spectroscopic studies of the interaction between methylene blue and G-quadruplex

The telomere is a complex of simple guanine-rich repeating sequences of single-stranded DNA and pro-tein at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes[1―3]. Hu-man telomere consists of the sequence, 5′-TTAGGG-3′, with the length ranging from 5 to 15 kb. The gu…     

新疆棉花枯萎病菌酯酶同工酶的研究

利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳测定新疆棉花枯萎病菌的酯酶同工酶,结果表明,供试的３０个代表性菌株的酯酶同工酶有４种类型的主酶带,类型１有Ｅ２１,Ｅ２０,Ｅ１９,Ｅ６,Ｅ５ ５条主酶带,包括２５个供试菌株;类型有Ｅ２１,Ｅ２０,Ｅ５４个主酶带,包括１个供试菌析对照３析标准菌株的酯酶同工酶及１９９７年新疆棉花枯萎病菌生理小种鉴定结果,可以看出：新疆棉花枯萎病菌生理小种与酯酶同工酶有显著性相关性。用生化的方法再     

Escape of DNA from mitochondria to the nucleus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The migration of genetic information from ancestral prokaryotic endosymbionts into eukaryotic nuclei is thought to have had an important role in the evolution of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Here we describe an assay for the detection of movement of DNA between mitochondria and the nucleus in yeast. Because recombinant plasmid DNA replicates after transformation into mitochondria of yeast strains lacking endogenous mitochondrial DNA we were able to propagate the nuclear genetic marker URA3 in mitochondria. As expected, the wild-type URA3 gene in mitochondria failed to complement the uracil auxotrophy (Ura-) caused by a nuclear ura3 mutation. But selection of Ura+ prototrophs from a Ura- strain carrying URA3 on a plasmid in its mitochondria enabled us to detect plasmid movement to the nucleus. Conversely, as the plasmid used also contained the mitochondrial gene COX2 required for respiratory growth, we were able to set up corresponding selections to detect migration of DNA from the nucleus to the mitochondria. Our results show that, in yeast, DNA escapes from mitochondria and appears in the nucleus at a surprisingly high frequency (approximately 2 x 10(-5) per cell per generation). But the rate at which DNA makes the journey in the opposite direction--nucleus to mitochondria--is apparently at least 100,000 times less.     

Defective repair of alkylated DNA by human tumour and SV40-transformed human cell strains

We have identified a group of 8 (among 39) human tumour cell strains deficient in the ability to support the growth of adenovirus 5 preparations treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), but able to support the growth of non-treated adenovirus normally. This deficient behaviour defines the Mer- phenotype. Strains having the Mer- phenotype were found to arise from tumours originating in four different organs. Relative to Mer+ strains, Mer- tumour strains showed greater sensitivity to MNNG-produced killing, greater MNNG-stimulated "DNA repair synthesis and a more rapid MNNG-produced decrease in semi-conservative DNA synthesis. Here we report that (1) Mer- strains are deficient in removing O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG) from their DNA after [Me-14C]MMNG treatment (Table 1); (2) Mer- tumour strains originate from tumours arising in patients having Mer+ normal fibroblasts (Fig. 1a, b); (3) SV40 transformation of (Mer+) human fibroblasts often converts them to Mer- strains (Fig. 1c, d); (4) MNNG produces more sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in Mer- than in Mer+ cell strains (Fig. 2).     

绵刺小孢子发育和雄配子体形成的研究

对绵刺的小孢子发育和雄配子体的形成进行了研究,有如下结论：绵刺雄蕊3枚,花药4室,药壁4－5层,腺质绒毡层,细胞在花粉成熟时原位消失,中层宿存,花药成熟时药壁由表皮、药室内壁、中层组成,小孢子母细胞经减数分上面体形的四分体,胞质分理解为同时型,成熟花粉为2细胞,小孢子发育及雄配子体形成过程中有败育发生,主要发生在小孢子母细胞减数分裂至四分体时期以及雄配子体形成各个时期。     

盐碱地放线菌的分离及鉴定

用高氏一号培养基对张掖市盐碱土壤中放线菌进行分离及鉴定,分离到9株菌.不同氯化钠浓度的CM培养基对9株菌进行嗜盐性测定,结果显示：菌株A2、A5、A6属于弱嗜盐放线菌,另外5株属于中度嗜盐放线菌.通过形态特征和生理生化特征鉴定,菌株A1、A2、A4、A5、A7、A8和A9为链霉菌属（Streptomycetes）,A3为链轮丝菌属（Streptoverticillum）,A6为诺卡氏菌属（Nocardia）.     

黄瓜根结线虫拮抗菌筛选及作用机理初探

采用击倒、驱避、温室盆栽和田间小区试验相结合的方法,对已获得的多株拮抗菌株进行了防治黄瓜根结线虫(Meloidogyne incognita)的筛选实验,并对优势菌株的作用机理进行了初步研究.结果表明,在室内共同培养条件下,S506,Cm05和Ms2菌株表现优秀,对线虫的校正死亡率均在30%以上,其中S506最高,达48.8%;对线虫的驱避实验,以Cm05+S506组合最好;在连茬4,8,11 a的温室土壤上进行的盆栽和田间小区实验表明,S506的防效最高、最稳定,田间校正防效最高达85.29%,显著优于阿维菌素14.89%的防效.S506的抗线虫物质主要是胞外代谢产物.     

Introduction of homologous DNA sequences into mammalian cells induces mutations in the cognate gene

Injection of homologous DNA sequences into nuclei of cultured mammalian cells induces mutations in the cognate chromosomal gene. It appears that these mutations result from incorrect repair of a heteroduplex formed between the introduced and the chromosomal sequence. This phenomenon is termed 'heteroduplex induced mutagenesis'. The high frequency of these events suggests that this method may prove useful for introducing mutations into specific mammalian genes.     

Innovation for ascertaining genomic islands in PAO1 and PA14 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Based on three distinct traits of genomic islands, a novel approach was developed to search for and determine genomic islands in special strains. Two genomic islands in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and 7 genomic islands in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 were defined with this method. Among the 9 genomic islands, 4 islands had been characterized before, while the other 5 islands were initially determined. The insert sites of 6 genomic islands are tRNA sequences, direct repeats of PA14GI-3 are relative to tRNA^Leu, and direct repeats of PA14GI-2 are at the 3＇ end of bifunctional GMP synthase/ glutamine amidotransferase. Only direct repeats of PA14GI-4 are not clear. Among the 5 newly-found genomic islands, it was supposed that PA14GI-2 is a genomic island related to Hg^2＋ uptake, PA14GI-3 is a secretory activity genomic island, PA14GI-6 is a pathogenicity island, and functions of PA14GI-1 and PA14GI-5 are not clear. Finally, the tyrosine type integrases in PAOIGI-1, PA14GI-5 and PA14GI-7 were analyzed, and their binding and restriction sites were predicted.     

云南鼠疫菌随机引物扩增DNA多态性指纹图谱分析

目的：分析云南不同地区、不同年代分离鼠疫菌的基因表型。方法：采用随机引物扩增技术（RAPD）对菌株进行分析。结果：共检测了28株鼠疫菌，除一株外，27株均显示有13条带型，并与假结核菌和小肠结肠炎菌有明显的区别。结论：云南家、野两型鼠疫菌株可能具有相同的随机引物扩增基因表征。     

基于频率法的单索玻璃幕墙索力模拟分析

为研究频率法在单索玻璃幕墙拉索索力监测中的准确性,基于某单索玻璃幕墙索力监测项目,采用有限元软件ANSYS建立幕墙拉索在不同边界条件下的振动模型,分析模拟频率与实测频率之间的关系,结果表明：幕墙拉索的边界条件更接近两端固支,并且短索更明显;高阶频率（n=3~6）较低阶频率（n=1~2）更稳定。将幕墙拉索的实测频率与边界条件为两端固支的模拟频率（n=3~6）进行比对,得到弦理论公式的频率修正系数为0.968,提出索力修正计算公式,其适用于长细比在270~340之间的单索玻璃幕墙拉索。采用弓式测力计法对修正公式进行验证,索力相对误差为-5.4%,表明该修正公式能有效提高索力计算精度。     

梓树(Catalpa ovata)胚胎发育的研究

<正>1.花粉母细胞的胞质分裂是在减数分裂之后同时发生的。四合花粉为四面体形。花粉于二细胞时散落。 2.单一的皮下孢原不经过任何分裂,直接行使胚囊母细胞的功能。 3.胚囊为单孢8-核型。 4.观察到双受精过程。 5.胚乳的形成与Maurtzon(1935)认为的Catalpa型不同。不同点是:初生胚乳核分裂形成胚乳原始细胞、合点吸器和珠孔吸器,后二者是非常短命的,由胚乳原始细胞形成胚乳,由合点区细胞解体形成次生合点吸器。 6.休眠合子随着吸器的解体迁移到合点端,而后随着胚乳的迅速伸展进入胚囊中部。     

A meiotic gene conversion gradient opposite to the direction of transcription.

Genetic recombination involves classical crossing-over and gene conversion (aberrant segregation). In fungi that produce an ascus containing four spores, a gene conversion event is manifested as 3:1 or 1:3 (or more rarely 4:0 or 0:4) segregations, in contrast to the normal mendelian 2:2 segregation. Polarity is one of the properties of gene conversion; in almost all cases the frequency of conversion exhibits a gradient across the gene monitored. The frequency of conversion is usually independent of the specific allele used as a marker, but dependent on its location. An interpretation of conversion polarity is that it is caused by the existence of specific initiation sites for meiotic recombination, located at the high end of the polarity gradient. Here we show that the polarity gradient for the HIS2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is high at the 3' end of the gene, implying that the promoter of HIS2 is not the initiation site.