Abstract
A complex of ribosomal DNA with RNA has been isolated from ovaries of metamorphosing tadpoles of Xenopus laevis. The complex is disrupted by treatments that destroy hydrogen bonds, and the sedimentation of the DNA within the complex is sensitive to RNase. We suggest that the RNA-ribosomal DNA complex is an intermediate in the synthesis of amplified ribosomal DNA and that the RNA is a template. In addition, in a preliminary attempt to mimic the amplification process in vitro, we have demonstrated the use of this RNA from the complex as a template for DNA synthesis by a DNA polymerase isolated from ovaries of Xenopus.
Keywords: Xenopus laevis, RNA-ribosomal DNA complex, DNA synthesis
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baltimore D. RNA-dependent DNA polymerase in virions of RNA tumour viruses. Nature. 1970 Jun 27;226(5252):1209–1211. doi: 10.1038/2261209a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Birnstiel M. L., Chipchase M., Speirs J. The ribosomal RNA cistrons. Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol. 1971;11:351–389. doi: 10.1016/s0079-6603(08)60332-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown D. D., Blackler A. W. Gene amplification proceeds by a chromosome copy mechanism. J Mol Biol. 1972 Jan 14;63(1):75–83. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(72)90522-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown D. D., Dawid I. B. Specific gene amplification in oocytes. Oocyte nuclei contain extrachromosomal replicas of the genes for ribosomal RNA. Science. 1968 Apr 19;160(3825):272–280. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3825.272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brutlag D., Schekman R., Kornberg A. A possible role for RNA polymerase in the initiation of M13 DNA synthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 Nov;68(11):2826–2829. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.11.2826. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Crippa M., Tocchini-Valentini G. P. Synthesis of amplified DNA that codes for ribosomal RNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 Nov;68(11):2769–2773. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.11.2769. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dawid I. B., Brown D. D., Reeder R. H. Composition and structure of chromosomal and amplified ribosomal DNA's of Xenopus laevis. J Mol Biol. 1970 Jul 28;51(2):341–360. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(70)90147-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans D., Birnstiel M. L. Localization of amplified ribosomal DNA in the oocyte of Xenopus laevis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1968 Aug 23;166(1):274–276. doi: 10.1016/0005-2787(68)90517-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gall J. G. Differential synthesis of the genes for ribosomal RNA during amphibian oögenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1968 Jun;60(2):553–560. doi: 10.1073/pnas.60.2.553. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gall J. G. The genes for ribosomal RNA during oögenesis. Genetics. 1969;61(1 Suppl):121–132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones O. W., Berg P. Studies on the binding of RNA polymerase to polynucleotides. J Mol Biol. 1966 Dec 28;22(2):199–209. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(66)90126-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lark K. G. Evidence for the direct involvement of RNA in the initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli 15T. J Mol Biol. 1972 Feb 28;64(1):47–60. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(72)90320-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Temin H. M., Mizutani S. RNA-dependent DNA polymerase in virions of Rous sarcoma virus. Nature. 1970 Jun 27;226(5252):1211–1213. doi: 10.1038/2261211a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Verma I. M., Meuth N. L., Bromfeld E., Manly K. F., Baltimore D. Covalently linked RNA-DNA molecule as initial product of RNA tumour virus DNA polymerase. Nat New Biol. 1971 Sep 29;233(39):131–134. doi: 10.1038/newbio233131a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]