A meiotic DNA polymerase from Coprinus cinereus: further purification and characterization

The multi-replication protein A (RPA) system--a new perspective

Replication protein A (RPA) complex has been shown, using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, to be required for most aspects of eukaryotic DNA metabolism: replication, repair, telomere maintenance and homologous recombination. Here, we review recent data concerning the function and biological importance of the multi-RPA complex. There are distinct complexes of RPA found in the biological kingdoms, although for a long time only one type of RPA complex was believed to be present in eukaryotes. Each complex probably serves a different role. In higher plants, three distinct large and medium subunits are present, but only one species of the smallest subunit. Each of these protein subunits forms stable complexes with their respective partners. They are paralogs as complex. Humans possess two paralogs and one analog of RPA. The multi-RPA system can be regarded as universal in eukaryotes. Among eukaryotic kingdoms, paralogs, orthologs, analogs and heterologs of many DNA synthesis-related factors, including RPA, are ubiquitous. Convergent evolution seems to be ubiquitous in these processes. Using recent findings, we review the composition and biological functions of RPA complexes.

Two X family DNA polymerases, λ and μ, in meiotic tissues of the basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus

The X family DNA polymerases lambda (CcPollambda) and mu (CcPolmu) were shown to be expressed during meiotic prophase in the basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus. These two polymerases are the only members of the X family in the C. cinereus genome. The open reading frame of CcPollambda encoded a predicted product of 800 amino acid residues and that of CcPolmicro of 621 amino acid residues. Both CcPollambda and CcPolmicro required Mn(2+) ions for activity, and both were strongly inhibited by dideoxythymidine triphosphate. Unlike their mammalian counterparts, CcPollambda and CcPolmicro had no terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity. Immunostaining analysis revealed that CcPollambda was present at meiotic prophase nuclei in zygotene and pachytene cells, which is the period when homologous chromosomes pair and recombine. CcPolmicro was present in a slightly wider range of cell stages, zygotene to diplotene. In analyses using D-loop recombination intermediate substrates, we found that both CcPollambda and CcPolmicro could promote primer extension of an invading strand in a D-loop structure. Moreover, both polymerases could fully extend the primer in the D-loop substrate, suggesting that D-loop extension is an activity intrinsic to CcPollambda and CcPolmicro. Based on these data, we discuss the possible roles of these polymerases in meiosis.

Meiosis and small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO)-conjugating enzyme, Ubc9

In this review, we describe the role of a small ubiquitin-like protein modifier (SUMO)-conjugating protein, Ubc9, in synaptonemal complex formation during meiosis in a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus. Because its meiotic cell cycle is long and naturally synchronous, it is suitable for molecular biological, biochemical and genetic studies of meiotic prophase events. In yeast two-hybrid screening using the meiotic-specific cDNA library of C. cinereus, we found that the meiotic RecA homolog CcLim15 interacted with CcUbc9, CcTopII and CcPCNA. Moreover, both TopII and PCNA homologs were known as Ubc9 interactors and the targets of sumoylation. Immunocytochemistry demonstrates that CcUbc9, CcTopII and CcPCNA localize with CcLim15 in meiotic nuclei during leptotene to zygotene when synaptonemal complex is formed and when homologous chromosomes pair. We discuss the relationships between Lim15/Dmc1 (CcLim15), TopII (CcTopII), PCNA (CcPCNA) and CcUbc9, and subsequently, the role of sumoylation in the stages. We speculate that CcLim15 and CcTopII work in cohesion between homologous chromatins initially and then, in the process of the zygotene events, CcUbc9 works with factors including CcLim15 and CcTopII as an inhibitor of ubiquitin-mediated degradation and as a metabolic switch in the meiotic prophase cell cycle. After CcLim15-CcTopII dissociation, CcLim15 remains on the zygotene DNA and recruits CcUbc9, Rad54B, CcUbc9, Swi5-Sfr1, CcUbc9 and then CcPCNA in rotation on the C-terminus. Finally during zygotene, CcPCNA replaces CcLim15 on the DNA and the free-CcLim15 is probably ubiquitinated and disappears. CcPCNA may recruit the polymerase. The idea that CcUbc9 intervenes in every step by protecting CcLim15 and by switching several factors at the C-terminus of CcLim15 is likely. At the boundary of the zygotene and pachytene stages, CcPCNA would be sumoylated. CcUbc9 may also be involved with CcPCNA in the switch from the replicative polymerase being recruited at zygotene to the repair-type DNA polymerases being recruited at pachytene.

Plant DNA polymerase λ, a DNA repair enzyme that functions in plant meristematic and meiotic tissues

Little is known about the functions of DNA polymerase lambda (Pol lambda) recently identified in mammals. From the genomic sequence information of rice and Arabidopsis, we found that Pol lambda may be the only member of the X-family in higher plants. We have succeeded in isolating the cDNA and recombinant protein of Pol lambda in a higher plant, rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) (OsPol lambda). OsPol lambda had activities of DNA polymerase, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase and deoxyribose phosphate lyase, a marker enzyme for base excision repair. It also interacted with rice proliferating cell nuclear antigen (OsPCNA) in a pull-down assay. OsPCNA increased the processivity of OsPol lambda. Northern blot analysis showed that the level of OsPol lambda expression correlated with cell proliferation in meristematic and meiotic tissues, and was induced by DNA-damaging treatments. These properties suggest that plant Pol lambda is a DNA repair enzyme which functions in plant meristematic and meiotic tissues, and that it can substitute for Pol beta and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase.

Coprinus cinereus DNA ligase I during meiotic development

DNA ligase I is thought to be essential for DNA replication, repair and recombination, at least in the mitotic cell cycle, but whether this is also the case during the meiotic cell cycle is still obscure. To investigate the role of DNA ligase I during the meiotic cell cycle, we cloned the Coprinus cinereus DNA ligase I cDNA (CcLIG1). Northern blotting analysis indicated that CcLIG1 is expressed not only in the premeiotic S-phase but also during the meiotic cell cycle itself. Especially, intense signals were observed in the leptotene and zygotene stages. Western blotting analysis indicated that CcLIG1 is expressed through the meiotic cell cycle and immunofluorescence also showed CcLIG1 protein staining in meiotic cells. Interestingly, the patterns was similar to that for the C. cinereus proliferating cell nuclear antigen gene (CcPCNA) and immunoprecipitation analysis suggested that CcPCNA binds to CcLIG1 in crude extracts of meiotic prophase I tissues. Based on these observations, relationships and roles during the meiotic cell cycle are discussed.

Dissociation of DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex during meiosis in Coprinus cinereus

Previously, the activity of DNA polymerase alpha was found in the meiotic prophase I including non-S phase stages, in the basidiomycetes, Coprinus cinereus. To study DNA polymerase alpha during meiosis, we cloned cDNAs for the C. cinereus DNA polymerase alpha catalytic subunit (p140) and C. cinereus primase small subunit (p48). Northern analysis indicated that both p140 and p48 are expressed not only at S phase but also during the leptotene/zygotene stages of meiotic prophase I. In situ immuno-staining of cells at meiotic prophase I revealed a sub population of p48 that does not colocalize with p140 in nuclei. We also purified the pol alpha-primase complex from meiotic cells by column chromatography and characterized its biochemical properties. We found a subpopulation of primase that was separated from the pol alpha-primase complex by phosphocellulose column chromatography. Glycerol gradient density sedimentation results indicated that the amount of intact pol alpha-primase complex in crude extract is reduced, and that a smaller complex appears upon meiotic development. These results suggest that the form of the DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex is altered during meiotic development.

A novel DNA polymerase homologous to Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I from a higher plant, rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A novel DNA polymerase, designated as OsPolI-like, has been identified from the higher plant, rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). The OsPolI-like cDNA was 3765 bp in length, and the open reading frame encoded a predicted product of 977 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 100 kDa. The OsPolI-like gene has been mapped to chromosome 8 and contains 12 exons and 11 introns. The encoded protein showed a high degree of sequence and structural homology to Escherichia coli pol I protein, but differed from DNA polymerase gamma and theta. The DNA polymerase domain of OsPolI-like showed DNA polymerase activity. Subcellular fractionation analysis suggested that the protein is localized in the plastid. Northern and western blotting, and in situ hybridization analyses demonstrated preferential expression of OsPolI-like in meristematic tissues such as shoot apical meristem, root apical meristem, leaf primordia and the marginal meristem. Interestingly, no expression was detected in mature leaves, although they have a high chloroplast content. These properties indicated that OsPolI-like is a novel plant DNA polymerase. The function of OsPolI-like is discussed in relation to plastid maturation.

Leucine aminopeptidase during meiotic development

We found a leucine aminopeptidase (LAP; EC 3.4.11.1) to be abundant in meiotic prophase tissue of a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus. After direct purification of the aminopeptidase component from meiocytes, we cloned the gene by degenerate PCR using partial amino-acid sequences of the purified enzyme and 5' and 3' RACE. It was homologous to the eukaryotic leucine aminopeptidase gene. The recombinant protein possesses the characteristic activities of a Coprinus leucine aminopeptidase (CoLAP) with a molecular mass of 52.4 kDa, and forms a homohexamer. Northern blot and spatial distribution analysis by immunohistochemical staining indicated CoLAP to be abundant in meiotic prophase cells and the supporting cells around meiocytes, but scarce in mycelium cells. Interestingly, from zygotene to pachytene, CoLAP was mostly present in supporting cells around meiocytes, but from diplotene onwards, it was plentiful in meiocytes themselves, suggesting that its expression is required to control some of the biochemical events at meiotic prophase. Moreover, the strong expression of CoLAP mRNA immediately after treatment with methyl methanesulfonate in mycelium implies that CoLAP has a role in somatic DNA repair.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen from a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus. Alternative truncation and expression in meiosis

The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate whether DNA replication at meiotic prophase also requires replication factors, especially proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We cloned PCNA cDNAs (CoPCNA) from a cDNA library made from basidia of the basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus. Interestingly, although CoPCNA is a single-copy gene in the genome, two different PCNA cDNA species were isolated using degenerate primers and a meiotic cDNA library, and were designated as CoPCNA-alpha and CoPCNA-beta. CoPCNA-beta was made by truncating at specific sites in CoPCNA-alpha mRNA, 5'-AAGAAGGAGAAG-3' and 5'-GAAGAGGAAGAA-3'. Both of these sequences were present in exon IV in the genomic sequence, and interestingly the former was the same as the inverse sequence of the latter. CoPCNA-alpha was 107 amino acids larger than human PCNA, and so the 107 amino-acid sequence was inserted in a loop, the so-called D2E2 loop, in human PCNA. Northern blotting analysis indicated that CoPCNA was expressed not only at premeiotic S but also at the meiotic prophase stages such as leptotene and early zygotene, just before and when karyogamy occurs and the homologous chromosomes pair. Western blotting analysis using anti-(CoPCNA-alpha) Ig revealed that at least two CoPCNA mRNAs before and after truncation were translated at the meiotic prophase as CoPCNA-alpha and CoPCNA-beta.

Strand exchange reaction in vitro and DNA-dependent ATPase activity of recombinant LIM15/DMC1 and RAD51 proteins from Coprinus cinereus

We previously cloned recA-homolog genes from a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus, and obtained the recombinant proteins (Nara et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 262, 781-789, 1999, see Ref. 1; Nara and Sakaguchi, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 275, 97-102, 2000, see Ref. 2). The primary purpose of the present study was to characterize the biochemical properties of the recombinant LIM15/DMC1 (CoLIM15) and RAD51 (CoRAD51) proteins. We purified the recombinant proteins, and their molecular masses were 37 and 35 kDa, respectively. Both enzymes showed DNA-dependent ATPase activity and ATP-dependent strand exchange reaction in vitro. CoRad51 was a five- to sixfold stronger DNA-dependent ATPase and showed greater dependency on single-stranded DNA than CoLim15. In meiosis, both enzymes were highly accumulated in the meiotic tissue at leptotene and zygotene stages at which the homologous chromosomes pair, but disappeared just before the pachytene stage at which they recombine. From these and the previously reported results, we discuss here the relationships between the enzymes and meiosis.

Characterization of interaction of C- and N-terminal domains in LIM15/DMC1 and RAD51 from a basidiomycetes, Coprinus cinereus

Both LIM15/DMC1 and RAD51 are thought to be essential for meiosis in which homologous chromosomes pair and recombine. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the homotypic and heterotypic interactions among their terminal domains. We prepared cDNAs and recombinant proteins of the full-length, N-terminal, and the C-terminal domains of LIM15/DMC1 (CoLIM15) and RAD51 (CoRAD51) from the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus. In both two-hybrid assay in vivo and pull-down assay in vitro, either CoLim15 or CoRad51 interacted homotypically between the C-terminal domains, respectively, but no heterotypic interaction was observed between CoLim15 and CoRad51. The N-terminal domain of CoLim15 bound to ssDNA and dsDNA, while the C-terminal domain of CoRad51 appeared to interact weakly with ssDNA. Based on these results, the interaction among the strand-exchange proteins and meiosis was discussed.

Life history and developmental processes in the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus

Coprinus cinereus has two main types of mycelia, the asexual monokaryon and the sexual dikaryon, formed by fusion of compatible monokaryons. Syngamy (plasmogamy) and karyogamy are spatially and temporally separated, which is typical for basidiomycetous fungi. This property of the dikaryon enables an easy exchange of nuclear partners in further dikaryotic-monokaryotic and dikaryotic-dikaryotic mycelial fusions. Fruiting bodies normally develop on the dikaryon, and the cytological process of fruiting-body development has been described in its principles. Within the specialized basidia, present within the gills of the fruiting bodies, karyogamy occurs in a synchronized manner. It is directly followed by meiosis and by the production of the meiotic basidiospores. The synchrony of karyogamy and meiosis has made the fungus a classical object to study meiotic cytology and recombination. Several genes involved in these processes have been identified. Both monokaryons and dikaryons can form multicellular resting bodies (sclerotia) and different types of mitotic spores, the small uninucleate aerial oidia, and, within submerged mycelium, the large thick-walled chlamydospores. The decision about whether a structure will be formed is made on the basis of environmental signals (light, temperature, humidity, and nutrients). Of the intrinsic factors that control development, the products of the two mating type loci are most important. Mutant complementation and PCR approaches identified further genes which possibly link the two mating-type pathways with each other and with nutritional regulation, for example with the cAMP signaling pathway. Among genes specifically expressed within the fruiting body are those for two galectins, beta-galactoside binding lectins that probably act in hyphal aggregation. These genes serve as molecular markers to study development in wild-type and mutant strains. The isolation of genes for potential non-DNA methyltransferases, needed for tissue formation within the fruiting body, promises the discovery of new signaling pathways, possibly involving secondary fungal metabolites.

Lucidenic acid O and lactone, new terpene inhibitors of eukaryotic DNA polymerases from a basidiomycete, Ganoderma lucidum

Terpenoids, 1, 2 and 3, which selectively inhibit eukaryotic DNA polymerase activities, were isolated from the fruiting body of a basidiomycete, Ganoderma lucidum, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. New terpenes, lucidenic acid O (1) and lucidenic lactone (2), prevented not only the activities of calf DNA polymerase alpha and rat DNA polymerase beta, but also these of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. Cerevisterol (3), which was reported to be a cytotoxic steroid, inhibited only the activity of DNA polymerase alpha. Although these compounds did not influence the activities of prokaryotic DNA polymerases and other DNA metabolic enzymes such as T7 RNA polymerase and deoxyribonuclease I.

4-Hydroxy-17-methylincisterol, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase-alpha activity and the growth of human cancer cells in vitro

An ergosterol derivative, 4-hydroxy-17-methylincisterol (HMI), was found to be an inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerases in vitro. HMI inhibited the activity of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha (pol. alpha). Among the polymerases tested, pol. alpha was the most sensitive to inhibition by HMI, and the inhibition was concentration dependent. The inhibitory effect of HMI on pol. alpha was almost the same as that shown by aphidicolin, a well-known potent pol. alpha inhibitor. HMI had relatively less effect on rat DNA pol. beta, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT), and calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in vitro, and did not influence the activities of prokaryotic DNA polymerases such as Klenow Fragment of DNA polymerase I, or the DNA-metabolic enzyme DNase I. HMI was found to be able to prevent the growth of human cancer cell lines originating from patients with leukemia or various solid tumors; its IC50 values ranged from 7.5 to 12 microM. We also synthesized other ergosterol derivatives and tested them, and found that two compounds, 17-methylincisterol and 4-acetyl-17-methylincisterol, have similar inhibitory effects.

A mushroom fruiting body-inducing substance inhibits activities of replicative DNA polymerases

We found and isolated two natural products in the extract from a basidiomycete, Ganoderma lucidum, as eukaryotic DNA polymerase inhibitors. The compounds were identified as cerebrosides, (4E,8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxypalmitoyl- 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine and (4E,8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxystearoyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranos yl-9-methyl- 4,8-sphingadienine and were found to be identical to the mushroom fruiting body-inducing substances (FIS) reported. These cerebrosides selectively inhibited the activities of replicative DNA polymerases, especially the alpha-type, from phylogenetically broad eukaryotic species, whereas they hardly influenced the activities of DNA polymerase beta, prokaryotic DNA polymerases, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, HIV reverse transcriptase, RNA polymerase, deoxyribonuclease I, and ATPase. The inhibition of another replicative polymerase, the delta-type, was moderate. The inhibitions of the replicative polymerases were dose-dependent, and the IC50 for animal or mushroom DNA polymerase alpha was achieved at approximately 12 micrograms/ml (16.2 microM) and for animal DNA polymerase delta at 57 micrograms/ml (77.2 microM). FIS is possibly a DNA polymerase inhibitor specific to the replicative enzyme group, and the fruiting body formation may be required for the suppression of the DNA replication or the vegetative growth of the mycelium.

Purification and characterization of a 100 kDa DNA polymerase from cauliflower inflorescence

A DNA polymerase from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) inflorescence has been purified to near homogeneity through five successive column chromatographies, and temporally designated cauliflower polymerase 1. Cauliflower polymerase 1 is a monopolypeptide with a molecular mass of 100 kDa. The enzyme efficiently uses synthetic DNA homopolymers and moderately activated DNA and a synthetic RNA homopolymer as template-primers. The enzyme is strongly sensitive to dideoxythymidine triphosphate and N-ethylmaleimide, but it is insensitive to aphidicolin. It was stimulated with 250 mM KCl. Its mode of DNA synthesis is high-processive with or without proliferating-cell nuclear antigen. A 3'-->5' exonuclease activity is associated with cauliflower polymerase 1. The enzyme is clearly different from cauliflower mitochondrial polymerase and does not resemble the four different types of wheat DNA polymerase, designated wheat DNA polymerases A, B, CI and CII. In the present paper the role of the enzyme in plant DNA synthesis is discussed.

The inhibitory effect of novel triterpenoid compounds, fomitellic acids, on DNA polymerase beta

We previously found new triterpenoid compounds, designated fomitellic acid A and B, which selectively inhibit the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and beta in vitro. On DNA polymerase beta, the fomitellic acids acted by competing with both the substrate and the template primer, but on DNA polymerase alpha, they acted non-competitively. At least on DNA polymerase beta, the evidence suggests that each of the fomitellic acids bind to the active region competing with the substrate and/or template primer, and subsequently inhibits the catalytic activity. We therefore further investigated the enzyme-binding properties by using DNA polymerase beta and its proteolytic fragments. The 39 kDa enzyme was proteolytically separated into two fragments of the template-primer-binding domain (8 kDa) and the catalytic domain (31 kDa). The fomitellic acids bound tightly to the 8 kDa fragment, but not to the 31 kDa fragment. The immuno-precipitation by antibodies against the enzyme or each of the fragments also proved the binding. These results suggest that the fomitellic acid molecule competes with the template-primer molecule on its 8 kDa binding site, binds to the site, and the fomitellic acid molecule simultaneously disturbs the substrate incorporation into the template primer.

Studies on inhibitors of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and beta: sulfolipids from a pteridophyte, Athyrium niponicum

Three sulfolipid compounds, 1, 2, and 3, have been isolated from a higher plant, a pteridophyte, Athyrium niponicum, as potent inhibitors of the activities of calf DNA polymerase alpha and rat DNA polymerase beta. The inhibition by the sulfolipids was concentration dependent, and almost complete inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA polymerase beta was achieved at 6 and 8 microg/mL, respectively. The compounds did not influence the activities of calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, prokaryotic DNA polymerases such as the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, T4 DNA polymerase and Taq polymerase, the DNA metabolic enzyme DNase I, and even a DNA polymerase from a higher plant, cauliflower. Similarly, the compounds did not inhibit the activity of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. The kinetic studies of the compounds showed that DNA polymerase alpha was inhibited non-competitively with respect to the DNA template and substrate, whereas DNA polymerase beta was inhibited competitively with both the DNA template and substrate. The binding to DNA polymerase beta could be stopped with non-ionic detergent, but the binding to DNA polymerase alpha could not.

Fomitellic acids, triterpenoid inhibitors of eukaryotic DNA polymerases from a basidiomycete, Fomitella fraxinea

Four new triterpenoid compounds, 1-4, were isolated from the mycelium of a basidiomycete, Fomitella fraxinea, and their structures determined by spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1-5 inhibited calf DNA polymerase alpha and rat DNA polymerase beta, with respective minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges of 35-75 and 90-130 microM.

A structure-specific endonuclease from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) inflorescence

A protein with structure-specific endonuclease activity has been purified to near homogeneity from cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) inflorescence through five successive column chromatographies. The protein is a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of 40 kDa. Using three different branched DNA structures (flap, pseudo-Y and stem-loop) we found that the enzyme, a cauliflower structure-specific endonuclease, cleaved the single-stranded tail in the 5'-flap and 5'-pseudo-Y structures, whereas it could not incise the 3'-flap and 3'-pseudo-Y structures. The incision points occur around the single strand-duplex junction in these DNA substrates and the enzyme leaves 5'-PO4 and 3'-OH termini on DNA. The protein also endonucleolytically cleaves on the 3'-side of the single-stranded region at the junction of unpaired and duplex DNA in the stem-loop structure. The structure-specific endonuclease activity is stimulated by Mg2+ and by Mn2+, but not by Ca2+. Like mammalian FEN-1, the protein has weak 5'-->3' double-stranded DNA-specific exonuclease activity. These results indicate that the cauliflower protein is a plant structure-specific endonuclease like mammalian FEN-1 or may be the plant alternative.

A new meiotic endonuclease from Coprinus meiocytes

Two different types of Coprinus meiotic nuclease have been previously reported by the authors which are believed to be involved in meiotic chromosome recombination [1,2]. A third meiotic endonuclease was purified from the cap tissues of the basidiocarp of Coprinus cinereus. The enzyme is a 60 kDa molecule composed of a monopolypeptide as revealed by SDS-PAGE and FPLC-Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The enzyme belongs to a type of endonuclease which can preferentially digest single-stranded DNA and requires divalent cations as a co-factor, most commonly Mg2+ ions. In the presence of this co-factor, the enzyme converts the supercoiled plasmid DNA (form I) to both the relaxed form (form II) and the linear form (form III). Ca2+ ions can also function as a co-factor, though, in this case, not only is form I plasmid converted to form II, but a few ladder bands between form I and form II are also produced. The Ca2+ ion effect as a cofactor can be prevented with ATP. Immunohistochemical observation shows that the enzyme is distributed in the surface of the gills, which contain the meiotic tissues. These characteristics clearly differ from those of the meiotic nucleases reported previously.

A DNA polymerase alpha catalytic subunit is purified independently from the tissues at meiotic prometaphase I of a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus

A 135kDa DNA polymerase alpha lacking primase activity has been purified to near homogeneity from Coprinus meiotic tissues. The activity of the DNA polymerase was sensitive to aphidicolin and N-ethylmaleimide, but was insensitive to dideoxythymidine triphosphate. DNA synthesis was proceeded with a low processivity. Neither activity nor processivity were affected by PCNA in the presence or absence of KCI. Monovalent cation inhibited its activity. These biochemical properties are almost identical to those of Coprinus DNA polymerase alpha -primase complex. However, the 135kDa DNA polymerase did not use activated DNA as a template-primer, inconsistent with Coprinus DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex. The 135kDa DNA polymerase was purified from the tissues at meiotic pro-metaphase I, suggesting that the alpha- DNA polymerase-primase complex dissociates as the meiotic cell cycle progresses and only the catalytic subunit remains at this stage.

Fatty acids selectively inhibit eukaryotic DNA polymerase activities in vitro

The in vitro relationship between eukaryotic DNA polymerases and fatty acids was investigated. Some fatty acids strongly inhibited the activities of DNA polymerase alpha and/or beta in vitro. The kinetics of inhibition by linoleic acid showed that DNA polymerase alpha was non-competitively inhibited with respect to the DNA template and substrate (dTTP), while DNA polymerase beta was inhibited competitively with both DNA and substrate.

Characterization of DNA ligase from the fungus Coprinus cinereus

DNA ligase was highly purified from the fungus Coprinus cinereus at the miotic recombination stage, pachytene. The pachytene DNA ligase showed three polypeptides with molecular masses of 88, 84 and 80 kDa, as estimated by the [32P]AMP-labeling assay. These three polypeptides were susceptible to reaction with an mAb against a 16-amino-acid sequence in human DNA ligase I, which is conserved in C-terminal regions of mammalian, vaccinia virus and yeast DNA ligases. Since rapidly purified preparations from fresh pachytene cells exhibited a single polypeptide of DNA ligase with a molecular mass of 88 kDa, the smaller polypeptides seemed to be limited-degradation products of the 88-kDa polypeptide during the isolation and purification procedures. K(m) values for ATP and (dT)20 hybridized with (dA)n were 1.5 microM and 90 nM, respectively. This enzyme was capable of joining (dT)20.(rA)n and (rA)12-18 (dT)n as well as (dT)20.(dA)n and able to ligate blunt-ended DNA in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) 6000. DNA ligases were also partially purified from zygotene cells at the meiotic pairing stage and mitotic mycelium cells. In their molecular mass, immuno-reactivity, K(m) value and substrate specificity, they were indistinguishable from pachytene DNA ligase. These results suggest that the fungus C. cinereus at the pachytene stage contains DNA ligase with a molecular mass of 88 kDa as a main or a single species, which is quite similar to DNA ligases from the zygotene and mycelium cells in molecular and catalytic properties.

A meiotic DNA polymerase from a mushroom, Agaricus bisporus

A meiotic DNA polymerase [DNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.7], which likely has a role in meiotic DNA repair, was isolated from a mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. The purified fraction displays three bands in SDS/PAGE, at molecular masses of 72 kDa, 65 kDa and 36 kDa. Optimal activity is at pH 7.0-8.0 in the presence of 5 mM Mg2+ and 50 mM KCl and at 28-30 degrees C, which is the temperature for meiosis. This enzyme is resistant to N-ethylmaleimide and sensitive to 2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, suggesting that it is a beta-like DNA polymerase. These characteristics are similar to those of Coprinus DNA polymerase beta [Sakaguchi and Lu (1982) Mol. Cell. Biol. 2, 752-757]. In Western-blot analysis, the antiserum against the Coprinus polymerase reacts only with the 65 kDa band, which coincides with the molecular mass of the Coprinus polymerase. Western-blot analysis also showed that the antiserum could react with crude extracts not only from the Agaricales family, to which Agaricus and Coprinus belong, but also from different mushroom families and Saccharomyces. The Agaricus polymerase activity can be found only in the meiotic-cell-rich fraction, but the enzyme is also present in the somatic cells in an inactive state.