We show that bacteriophage T4 has two alternative mechanisms to initiate DNA replication: one dependent on Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6), and one dependent on general recombination. Continued DNA synthesis under recombination-defective conditions was sensitive to rifampin, an inhibitor ofRNA polymerase. On the other hand, DNA synthesis accelerated in spite of the presence of rifampin if recombination occurred.Replication ofbacteriophage T4 DNA is initiated on linear DNA molecules at one or several preferred origins (1-9). Soon after the first initiation, many more replication forks are initiated, leading to a rapid acceleration ofDNA synthesis (10, 11). During this acceleration period, a complex network of DNA is formed (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). This process requires recombination functions (9, 18). Most mutations that inhibit recombination not only prevent for, mation of this network but also arrest DNA synthesis prematurely (19)(20)(21)(22). This indicates that recombination and the continuation ofDNA replication are interdependent (for review see ref. 23). The underlying reasons have remained unknown because of observations seemingly inconsistent with simple explanations: the DNA arrest phenotype ofcertain recombinationdefective mutants is overcome by additional mutations in genes 33 and 55 (20-22, 24), which code for RNA polymerase accessory proteins (25)(26)(27).To explain these and other apparently contradictory results, we have proposed that phage T4 uses different modes to initiate DNA replication: initiation from specific origin sequences, which we define as "primary" initiation, and subsequent "secondary" initiation from recombinational intermediates (7,8,28).For several reasons (7,8,29,30) we suspected that host RNA polymerase (RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) is required for primary initiation although it has been shown that late wild-type DNA replication does not depend on RNA polymerase (31, 32). After the onset of DNA replication, gene 33 and 55 products associate with RNA polymerase (25-27) to effect the switch to late gene expression (33-35) by altering promoter recognition (36). If unmodified host RNA polymerase were required for primary origin initiation, the association with gene 33 and 55 products would shut offreinitiation from primary origins and make the alternative recombinational initiation indispensable for growth of wild-type T4. This hypothesis accounts for the observations mentioned above: premature arrest of DNA synthesis in recombination-defective mutants (46-47-) and restoration of DNA synthesis by additional mutations in genes 33 and 55. Although the rate of DNA synthesis under these conditions is similar to that ofwild-type T4, no branched concatemers are formed (20)(21)(22). Instead, the DNA replicates as linear molecules of unit length, which we suspected to require continued initiation from primary origins by RNA polymerase. Therefore, this replication should remain sensitive to inhibitors of RNA polymerase at late...

. In wild-type T4, timing of these pathways is integrated with the developmental program and related to transcription and packaging of DNA. In primase mutants, which are defective in origin-dependent lagging-strand DNA synthesis, the late pathway can bypass the lack of primers for lagging-strand DNA synthesis. The exquisitely regulated synthesis of endo VII, and of two proteins from its gene, explains the delay of recombination-dependent DNA replication in primase (as well as topoisomerase) mutants, and the temperature-dependence of the delay. Other proteins (e.g., the singlestranded DNA binding protein and the products of genes 46 and 47) are important in all recombination pathways, but they interact differently with other proteins in different pathways. These homologous recombination pathways contribute to evolution because they facilitate acquisition of any foreign DNA with limited sequence homology during horizontal gene transfer, without requiring transposition or site-specific recombination functions. Partial heteroduplex repair can generate what appears to be multiple mutations from a single recombinational intermediate. The resulting sequence divergence generates barriers to formation of viable recombinants. The multiple sequence changes can also lead to erroneous estimates in phylogenetic analyses.The purpose of looking back is not, of course, merely to obtain satisfaction from reflecting on past triumphs; rather, it is to discover as many clues as possible to the likely developments of the future.Glenn T. Seaborg T he tight interrelationship between homologous recombination and DNA replication was first evident in T4 and the related T-even phages. Because DNA of T4 and its host E. coli differ in base composition and modifications and because the host DNA is rapidly degraded after phage infection, molecular aspects of T4 replication and recombination could be readily investigated by biochemical, biophysical, and genetic methods. Early characterization of mutations in most essential genes (1) and the almost complete dependence of replication and recombination on phage-encoded proteins (2) allowed analyses of recombination and replication proteins, as well as ''reality checks'' of results obtained with genetic and biochemical methods (3). The following idiosyncrasies of T4 chromosomes revealed the importance of DNA ends and recombination-dependent DNA replication. Ends of T4 chromosomes are cut during packaging from branched concatemers, which are generated by recombination-dependent replication. A ''headful mechanism'' packages a complete genome and Ϸ3% DNA repeated at each end as ''terminal redundancy,'' thereby generating the random circular permutation of chromosomal ends (4). Some smaller T4 particles, formed because of assembly errors, package incomplete genomes whose ends are also randomly circularly permuted (5). Multifactor crosses revealed stimulation of recombination by their DNA ends, regardless of map positions (5, 6). Moreover, different segregation patterns of alleles in patch vs. splice re...

Gaeumannomyces graminis, the causative agent of take-all disease of wheat, barley, and oats, was detected in infected wheat seedlings by using the polymerase chain reaction to amplify Gaeumannomyces-specific DNA fragments. Nested primers and two rounds of amplification were used to amplify two fragments, approximately 287 and 188 bp in size, from G. graminis-infected wheat seedlings. The use of nested primers greatly decreased the number of nonspecific amplification products. Polymerase chain reaction products were not obtained with DNA from seedlings infected with several other phytopathogenic fungi or with DNA from uninfected seedlings. Amplified products were visualized on agarose gels, and their identities were confirmed by DNA hybridization. This method did not require culturing the fungus and has potential for detecting G. graminis in infested wheat, barley, or oat fields.

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