• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.305-310
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• 2009

Plasmid pGKV21 contains a 229-nucleotide (nt) single-strand DNA initiation (ssi) signal. Using asymmetric PCR, we prepared a small single-stranded (ss) DNA fragment of the ssi signal and, using the 229-nt ssDNA fragment, determined the requirements of RNA polymerase for priming and DNA-protein interaction. The ssi fragment prepared was able to generate primer RNAs with almost the same efficiency as the $M13{\Delta}lac182/229$ phage DNA. However, the cssi (complementary strand of the ssi signal) fragment could not synthesize primer RNAs. This result suggests that the 229-nt ssi signal functions in a strand specific manner. Gel retardation and DNase I footprinting demonstrated that the synthesized ssi fragment could interact with both E. coli RNA polymerase and SSB protein to synthesize primer RNA. In Escherichia coli [pWVAp], an addition of rifampicin resulted in an accumulation of ssDNA, indicating that the host-encoded RNA polymerase is involved in the conversion of ssDNA to double-stranded plasmid DNA.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 1995

Using a mutant M13 phage derivative lacking a great part of the complementary strand synthesis origin, we identified six single-strand initiation (ssi) signals for DNA replication in pACYC184, pLG214, pGKV21, and pDPT270 plasmids, and named them $ssiA_{YC}$, $ssiA_{LG}$, $ssiB_{LG}$, $ssiA_{KV}$, $ssiA_{PT}$, and $ssiB_{PT}$, respectively. Two of them were from pDPT270, one from downstream the on of pACYC184, two from pLG214, one from upstream the plus origin of pGKV21. Introduction of these ssi signals into the deleted $ori_c$ site of a mutant filamentous M13 phage ($M13{\Delta}lac182$) resulted in the restoration of growth activity of this phage. These ssi signals were classified into a number of groups on the basis of sequence similarity. $ssiA_{YC}$ and $ssiA_{LG}$ show extensive sequence homology to the n'-site (primosome assembly sites) of ColE1, whereas $ssiB_{PT}$ is homologous to the n'-site of ${\Phi}X174$. $ssiA_{PT}$ belongs to G4-type ssi signals which require only dnaG primase and SSB protein for the priming of replication. In addition, possible biological roles of these ssi signals are discussed.