Simian virus 40 large T antigen untwists DNA at the origin of DNA replication Journal Article


Authors: Dean, F. B.; Hurwitz, J.
Article Title: Simian virus 40 large T antigen untwists DNA at the origin of DNA replication
Abstract: Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 T antigen) untwists DNA at the SV40 replication origin. In the presence of ATP, T antigen shifted the average linking number of an SV40 origin-containing plasmid topoisomer distribution. The loss of up to two helical turns was detected. The reaction required the presence of the 64-base pair core origin of replication containing T antigen DNA binding site II; binding site I had no effect on the untwisting reaction. The presence of human single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) slightly reduced the degree of untwisting in the presence of ATP. ATP hydrolysis was not required since untwisting occurred in the presence of nonhydrolyzable analogs of ATP. However, in the presence of a nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP, the requirement for the SV40 origin sequence was lost. The origin requirement for DNA untwisting was also lost in the absence of dithiothreitol. The origin-specific untwisting activity of T antigen is distinct from its DNA helicase activity, since helicase activity does not require the SV40 origin but does require ATP hydrolysis. The lack of a requirement for SSB or ATP hydrolysis and the reduction in the pitch of the DNA helix by just a few turns at the replication origin distinguishes this reaction from the T antigen-mediated DNA unwinding reaction, which results in the formation of a highly underwound DNA molecule. Untwisting occurred without a lag after the start of the reaction, whereas unwound DNA was first detected after a lag of 10 min. It is proposed that the formation of a multimeric T antigen complex containing untwisted DNA at the SV40 origin is a prerequisite for the initiation of DNA unwinding and replication.
Keywords: dna-binding proteins; nonhuman; dna replication; protein dna binding; virus large t antigen; simian virus 40; binding sites; virus replication; adenosine triphosphate; dna, single-stranded; dna replication origin; antigens, polyomavirus transforming; hydrolysis; sodium chloride; dna topoisomerases, type i; dna denaturation; antigens, viral; simiae; dithiothreitol; simian virus; human; priority journal; article; electrophoresis, agar gel; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.
Journal Title: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Volume: 266
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0021-9258
Publisher: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  
Date Published: 1991-03-15
Start Page: 5062
End Page: 5071
Language: English
PUBMED: 1848235
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9258(19)67756-2
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 27 September 2019 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jerard Hurwitz
    206 Hurwitz
  2. Frank B. Dean
    23 Dean