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Replication of Yeast Chromosomal DNA

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Abstract

THE study of replication in higher eukaryotes has been hampered by the large size of the DNA molecules in their chromosomes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a eukaryote with very little DNA per haploid nucleus (9 × 109 daltons)1. This has facilitated measurement of intact yeast chromosomal DNA by sedimentation velocity2 and electron microscopy3. The results indicate that yeast chromosomes are similar in size to those of viruses and bacteria, each chromosome containing a single DNA duplex ranging from 108 to 109 daltons. More than 95% of the chromosomal DNA molecules isolated from asynchronous cultures are simple linear structures, but the few branched structures are good candidates for replication intermediates3. We have used two experimental approaches which provide evidence that these exceptional molecules are, indeed, replication intermediates. Characterisation of these molecules by electron microscopy indicates that yeast DNA replication is similar to higher eukaryotic DNA replication in two important respects. First, most and possibly all initiations are internal. Second, many chromosomes contain more than one replication unit.

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Author notes

  1. THOMAS D. PETES

    Present address: Division of Microbiology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, NW7

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195

    CAROL SHAW NEWLON, THOMAS D. PETES, LYNNA M. HEREFORD & WALTON L. FANGMAN

Authors
  1. CAROL SHAW NEWLON
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  2. THOMAS D. PETES
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  3. LYNNA M. HEREFORD
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  4. WALTON L. FANGMAN
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NEWLON, C., PETES, T., HEREFORD, L. et al. Replication of Yeast Chromosomal DNA. Nature 247, 32–35 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/247032a0

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