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. 1995 Mar 14;92(6):2244–2248. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.6.2244

A 7-base-pair sequence protects DNA from exonucleolytic degradation in Lactococcus lactis.

I Biswas 1, E Maguin 1, S D Ehrlich 1, A Gruss 1
PMCID: PMC42460  PMID: 7892255

Abstract

Linear DNA molecules are subject to degradation by various exonucleases in vivo unless their ends are protected. It has been demonstrated that a specific 8-bp sequence, 5'-GCTGGTGG-3', named Chi, can protect linear double-stranded DNA from the major Escherichia coli exonuclease RecBCD. Chi protects linear replication products of rolling-circle plasmids from RecBCD degradation in vivo, in agreement with observations in vitro. A unique 7-bp sequence, 5'-GCGCGTG-3', is shown to protect similar replication products from degradation in Lactococcus lactis strains but not in more distantly related Gram-positive bacteria. The properties of this sequence in L. lactis correspond to those of a Chi site. Linear plasmid replication products have been detected in numerous prokaryotes, suggesting the widespread existence of short species-specific sequences that preserve linear DNA from extensive degradation by host cell exonucleases.

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Selected References

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