Interlocked Rings Research Articles

Renaturation of complementary single-stranded DNA circles: complete rewinding facilitated by the DNA untwisting enzyme.

Renaturation of two complementary single-stranded circles should be limited by topological constraints against the rewinding of the DNA helix. If a mixture of complementary single-stranded rings is annealed and then treated with the DNA untwisting enzyme, the DNA circles completely renature as judged by (i) the presence of interlocked rings that sediment at 53 S in alkali, (ii) the buoyant density of the renatured DNA in CsCl gradients containing ethidium bromide, and (iii) the resistance of the product to the single-strand-specific S1 nuclease. Therefore, the DNA untwisting enzyme is able to provide a transient single-strand break that is sufficient to allow the two strands to completely rewind. The possibility that the untwisting enzyme might facilitate the initiation of the process of genetic recombination is discussed.

The circle mode of replication of bacteriophage lambda: The role of covalently closed templates and the formation of mixed catenated dimers

This report presents evidence for the existence of two types of structural intermediates when λ DNA replicates as a circle. The first seems to consist of a partially replicated, covalently closed circle. The second was identified from a variety of properties, including electron microscope analysis after partial denaturation. It consists of a molecule with two interlocked rings, of which one is covalently closed and the other contains an interruption in one strand. A model for circle replication explaining how these structures might be related is presented.

On the continuity of chromosomal subunits: an analysis of induced ring chromosomes in Vicia faba

The proposition that subunits of a chromatid are continuous in a directional sense has been tested by observing the behaviour of induced ring chromosomes in Vicia faba. On the simplest hypothesis, that the subunits are the uninterrupted complementary strands of the DNA molecule, the polarity of rejoining should result in free separation of rings following replication in successive cell cycles. Centric and acentric ring chromosomes were separately assessed in both diploid and colchicine-accumulated tetraploid metaphase cells of primary root tips. Contrary to expectation large numbers of single and interlocked rings were observed in both cell cycles. Spontaneous sister chromatid exchanges and other breakage-reunion events can produce the configurations seen; with the postulated level of sister chromatid exchange equating that determined autoradiographically in rod chromosomes of V. faba. Unless the replication of ring chromosomes produces conditions unusual in rod chromosome replication, spontaneous breakage is probably common in replicating or post replication Vicia chromosomes. — A fundamental difference exists between the behaviour of centric and acentric ring chromosomes. Acentric ring chromosomes behave as if the chromatid arm were one DNA molecule, or a number of DNA molecules with identical directional sense. However, centric ring chromosomes behave as if there were a difference at the centromere in at least one (probably the metacentric) chromosome of the Vicia complement. That is, the two “duplication-segregation” subunits which extend the length of the chromosome, may contain a change in polarity at the centromere.

Derivative chromosomal structures from a ring chromsome 4.

This report describes the results from cultured lymphocytes studied at metaphase, anaphase, and interphase from an individual with a ring chromosome 4. A ring was present in 90.1% of metaphases. Special attention was directed towards the occurrence of derivative chromosomal structures, such as partially duplicated and triplicated rings, tricentric rings, chains of 3 interlocked rings, rod-shaped chromosomes, "pulverized" rings, and others. The clinical features of the individual (small stature and impaired mental development, hypoplastic thumbs, ptosis palpebrae hypoplastic external male genitalia, abnormal dermatoglphic pattern) did not conform to a specific phenotype.

An effect of centromere function on the behavior of ring-X chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster.

It is shown that under the influence of an autosomal meiotic mutant that causes abnormalities in meiotic centromere function (mei-S332), ring-X chromosomes are frequently nonrecoverable. Evidence is presented that this nonrecoverability is caused by a failure of sister ring-chromatids to successfully effect an equational separation with resultant dominant lethality. Because mei-S332 results in meiotic abnormalities only after replication has been completed, and because ring chromosomes are normally transmitted with approximately the same efficiency as rod chromosomes, it is suggested that during replication in normal meioses, sister ring-chromatids form mutually interlocked ring complexes that are resolved without genetic consequences at anaphase II, with the resolution owing at least in part to normal centromere function.

Interlocked DNA rings. II. Physicochemical studies.

AbstractSeveral species of topologically interlocked λb2b5c DNA rings (catenanes) have been prepared in vitro. The sedimentation behavior of dimeric catenanes containing 0, 1, or 2 covalently closed duplex rings has been studied as a function of the superhelical density of the covalently closed ring or rings. In general, if XtpY represents rings X and Y topologically interlocked, the sedimentation coefficient of this species, SXtpY, is related to the sedimentation coefficients SX and SY of the component rings by the empirical relationship SXtpY/SY = [(MX + MY)/MY] [1 + (MX/MY)1.78(SY/SX)1.78]−0.56This equation can also be extended to the case where three monomeric rings are topologically linked in a chain. For two topologically interlocked monomeric rings with neither ring covalently closed, the sedimentation coefficient is 1.35 times that of the monomeric ring. This is different from results reported for mitochondrial and P22 catenanes by others. Several possibilities are discussed to account for this discrepancy. The sedimentation coefficient of a species containing one covalently closed duplex ring and a single‐stranded ring was also measured in an alkaline medium. This species, which can be easily derived from a dimeric catenane containing two covalently closed duplex rings, is particularly useful for the identification of covalently closed dimeric catenanes. Some electron microscopic studies of these interlocked rings are presented in an accompanying paper.

Interlocked ring systems obtained by the metathesis reaction of cyclododecene. Mass spectral evidence

Interlocked ring systems obtained by the metathesis reaction of cyclododecene. Mass spectral evidence

Sedimentation velocity properties of complex mitochondrial DNA.

The interlocked duplex DNA rings in a catenane appear to sediment as independent units when the rings are relaxed and as connected units when the rings are in a superhelical conformation.

Noncomplementarity in base sequences between the cohesive ends of coliphages 186 and lambda and the formation of interlocked rings between the two DNA's.

AbstractThe half molecules of 186 DNA have been isolated by the Hg(II)–Cs2SO4 density gradient centrifugal ion technique. The buoyant densities of the two halves in CsCI at 25°C. are 1.713 and 1.709 g./cm.3, corresponding to GC contents of 54% and 50%, respectively. Similarly, 5‐bromouracil labeled λ DNA halves were separated. The isolation of the four DNA halves made it possible to test for homology in base sequences between the cohesive ends of λ and those of 186. There was no indication of any significant homology in base sequences between the cohesive ends of the two DNA's, as indicated by the absence of a band with intermediate buoyant density in CsCI when either half of 186 DNA was annealed with either half of 5‐bromouracil labeled λ DNA and then centrifuged. The lack of cohesion between the two DNA's made it possible to demonstrate unequivocally the formation of interlocked rings (catenanes) between the two DNA's. The existence of a dimeric catenane is evidenced by the formation of a species of intermediate buoyant density when 5‐bromouracil labeled λ DNA is cyclized in the presence of cyclic 186 DNA of a relatively high concentration. The molecular weight of one DNA relative to the other can be calculated from the position of the dimeric catenane in a density gradient by using the method of Baldwin. The result was in complete agreement with our previous measurements from the sedimentation coefficients and by electron microscopy. The probability of dimeric catenane formation when one DNA is cyclized in the presence of another DNA is discussed. The experimental results agree with the theoretical expectation.