DNA Component (dna + component)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Biophysical characterization of polymeric and liposomal gene delivery systems using empirical phase diagrams

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 10 2006
Marika Ruponen
Abstract A major problem with the pharmaceutical use of nonviral gene delivery systems arises from their limited characterization due to their size and heterogeneity. In this study, we provide a more intuitive view of their structure and behavior employing an empirically based phase diagram approach. Complexes formed between plasmid DNA and four cationic carriers (a monovalent lipid, the same monovalent lipid combined with a helper lipid, polylysine, and a branched form of polyethyleneimine), at both positive and negative nitrogen/phosphorous ratios, are characterized employing dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism, and extrinsic dye fluorescence as methods sensitive to various aspects of the structure of the complexes. These measurements were performed as a function of pH and ionic strength to perturb the electrostatic contacts that are key to complex formation. Using a multidimensional eigenvalue approach, the data are presented in the form of a colored, five dimensional diagram. The resultant eight empirical phase diagrams display three to five variably resolved phases. In contrast, the phase diagram of the plasmid alone showed only two to three such phases. Each state is assigned to a particular form of the complex in terms of their size, extent of collapse and conformation of the associated DNA component. The utility of this approach is then briefly discussed. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 95:2101,2114, 2006 [source]


Genome Organization of an Infectious Clone of Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (Philippines), a New Monopartite Begomovirus*

JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2002
Tatsuya Kon
Abstract Complete nucleotide sequence of infectious cloned DNA of Tomato leaf curl virus from Philippines (ToLCV-Ph) was determined. The single circular DNA molecule comprises 2755 nucleotides. ToLCV-Ph DNA contains six open reading frames (ORFs) each capable of encoding proteins with a molecular weight greater than 10 kDa. A partial dimeric ToLCV-Ph DNA clone was constructed in a binary vector and used to agroinoculate tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Zuikou 102). Typical leaf curl symptoms were observed, showing that the single DNA component is sufficient for infectivity. In total nucleotide sequence comparisons with other geminiviruses, ToLCV-Ph was most closely related to Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV) (79% identity), ToLCV-Laos (78%), Soyabean crinkle leaf virus -Thailand (78%) and ToLCV-Taiwan (77%). The significant but relatively low sequence identity in the genomic DNA between ToLCV-Ph and other geminiviruses suggests that it is a distinct geminivirus in the genus Begomovirus. [source]


Why repetitive DNA is essential to genome function

BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 2 2005
James A. Shapiro
ABSTRACT There are clear theoretical reasons and many well-documented examples which show that repetitive DNA is essential for genome function. Generic repeated signals in the DNA are necessary to format expression of unique coding sequence files and to organise additional functions essential for genome replication and accurate transmission to progeny cells. Repetitive DNA sequence elements are also fundamental to the cooperative molecular interactions forming nucleoprotein complexes. Here, we review the surprising abundance of repetitive DNA in many genomes, describe its structural diversity, and discuss dozens of cases where the functional importance of repetitive elements has been studied in molecular detail. In particular, the fact that repeat elements serve either as initiators or boundaries for heterochromatin domains and provide a significant fraction of scaffolding/matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) suggests that the repetitive component of the genome plays a major architectonic role in higher order physical structuring. Employing an information science model, the ,functionalist' perspective on repetitive DNA leads to new ways of thinking about the systemic organisation of cellular genomes and provides several novel possibilities involving repeat elements in evolutionarily significant genome reorganisation. These ideas may facilitate the interpretation of comparisons between sequenced genomes, where the repetitive DNA component is often greater than the coding sequence component. [source]


Molecular Characterization of a Strain of Squash Leaf Curl China Virus from the Philippines

JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2003
T. Kon
Abstract The complete nucleotide sequence of infectious cloned DNA components (A and B) of the causal agent of squash leaf curl disease in the Philippines was determined. DNA-A and DNA-B comprise 2739 and 2705 nucleotides, respectively; the common region is 174 bases in length. Five ORFs were found in DNA-A and two in DNA-B. Partial dimeric clones containing DNA-A and DNA-B, constructed in a binary vector and transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens, induced systemic infection in agro-inoculated pumpkin plants (Cucurbita moschata). The total DNA-A sequence was most closely related to that of Squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV) (88% identity), although the existence of B component of SLCCNV has not been reported. The deduced coat protein was like that of SLCCNV (98% amino acid sequence identity) and the Philippines virus has low sequence identity to Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) and Squash mild leaf curl virus (SMLCV) (63 and 64% total nucleotide sequence identities, respectively). From these results, we propose that the Philippines virus be designated Squash leaf curl China virus -[Philippines] (SLCCNV-[PH]). [source]


Bean dwarf mosaic virus: a model system for the study of viral movement

MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
AVNER LEVY
SUMMARY Taxonomy:Bean dwarf mosaic virus -[Colombia:1987] (BDMV-[CO:87]) is a single-stranded plant DNA virus, a member of the genus Begomovirus of the family Geminiviridae. Physical properties: BDMV virions are twinned incomplete isosahedra measuring 18 × 30 nm. The viral particle is composed of 110 subunits of coat protein, organized as 22 pentameric capsomers. Each subunit has a molecular mass of ,29 kDa. BDMV possesses two DNA components (designated DNA-A and DNA-B), each ,2.6 kb in size. Host range: The natural and most important host of BDMV is the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Nicotiana benthamiana is often used as an experimental host. Common bean germplasm can be divided into two major gene pools: Andean materials, which are mostly susceptible to BDMV, and Middle American materials, which are mostly resistant to BDMV. Disease symptoms: The symptom intensity in common bean plants depends on the stage of infection. Early infection of susceptible bean seedlings will result in severe stunting and dwarfing, leaf distortion and mottling or mosaic, as well as chlorotic or yellow spots or blotches. BDMV-infected plants usually abort their flowers or produce severely distorted pods. Late infection of susceptible plants or early infection of moderately resistant genotypes may show a mild mosaic, mottle and crumpling or an irregular distribution of variegated patches. Biological properties: As a member of the Begomovirus group, BDMV is transmitted from plant to plant by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. BDMV is a nonphloem-limited virus and can replicate and move in the epidermal, cortical and phloem cells. As a nonphloem-limited virus, it is sap-transmissible. [source]