Identification of an Amplification Promoting DNA Sequence from the Hypotrichous Ciliate Stylonychia Lemnae

Overview

Journal Nucleic Acids Res

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 1989 Nov 11

PMID 2479911

Citations 6

Authors

M Wegner

E Helftenbein

F Muller

M Meinecke

S Muller

F Grummt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The macronucleus of the hypotrichous ciliate Stylonychia lemnae contains a 1218 bp long DNA molecule which becomes highly amplified during vegetative growth due to a continuous overreplication over a long time range. The region which is located upstream the open reading frame of the overamplified 1.2kbp Stylonychia DNA molecule enabled plasmids containing an inefficiently transcribed thymidine kinase gene to persist and amplify upon transfection into mouse L fibroblasts under selective conditions. This region contains long AT-rich stretches. The AT-rich sequences interact with a previously characterized HMG-I like protein from mouse Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. A binding activity for AT-rich stretches could also be identified in macronuclear extracts from Stylonychia lemnae. We suggest a common mechanism for overamplification in Stylonychia macronuclei during vegetative growth and amplification of plasmid DNA in heterologous mouse cells under the influence of a common element.

Citing Articles

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Structural analysis of mouse rDNA: coincidence between nuclease hypersensitive sites, DNA curvature and regulatory elements in the intergenic spacer.

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