Complete Genome Sequence and Methylome Analysis of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 65.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 65 is the original source strain for the restriction enzyme Acc65I. Its complete sequence and full methylome were determined using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing.

Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of Bacillus subtilis T30.

The complete genome sequence of Bacillus subtilis T30 was determined by SMRT sequencing. The entire genome contains 4,138 predicted genes. The genome carries one intact prophage sequence (37.4 kb) similar to Bacillus phage SPBc2 and one incomplete prophage genome of 39.9 kb similar to Bacillus phage phi105.

Medium-sized tandem repeats represent an abundant component of the Drosophila virilis genome.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we developed a simple method for carrying out a restriction enzyme analysis of eukaryotic DNA in silico, based on the known DNA sequences of the genomes. This method allows the user to calculate lengths of all DNA fragments that are formed after a whole genome is digested at the theoretical recognition sites of a given restriction enzyme. A comparison of the observed peaks in distribution diagrams with the results from DNA cleavage using several restriction enzymes performed in vitro have shown good correspondence between the theoretical and experimental data in several cases. Here, we applied this approach to the annotated genome of Drosophila virilis which is extremely rich in various repeats. RESULTS: Here we explored the combined approach to perform the restriction analysis of D. virilis DNA. This approach enabled to reveal three abundant medium-sized tandem repeats within the D. virilis genome. While the 225 bp repeats were revealed previously in intergenic non-transcribed spacers between ribosomal genes of D. virilis, two other families comprised of 154 bp and 172 bp repeats were not described. Tandem Repeats Finder search demonstrated that 154 bp and 172 bp units are organized in multiple clusters in the genome of D. virilis. Characteristically, only 154 bp repeats derived from Helitron transposon are transcribed. CONCLUSION: Using in silico digestion in combination with conventional restriction analysis and sequencing of repeated DNA fragments enabled us to isolate and characterize three highly abundant families of medium-sized repeats present in the D. virilis genome. These repeats comprise a significant portion of the genome and may have important roles in genome function and structural integrity. Therefore, we demonstrated an approach which makes possible to investigate in detail the gross arrangement and expression of medium-sized repeats basing on sequencing data even in the case of incompletely assembled and/or annotated genomes.

Substrate specificity of new methyl-directed DNA endonuclease GlaI.

BACKGROUND: Recently, we have discovered site-specific endonucleases, which recognize and cleave only DNA sequences with 5-methylcytosine. Two specificities of such endonucleases have been described. Enzymes BisI, BlsI, and GluI are isoschizomers and hydrolyze the DNA sequence 5'-GCNGC-3'/3'-CGNCG-5', which is methylated in different ways. The enzyme GlaI cleaves the DNA sequence 5'-GCGC-3'/3'-CGCG-5' if there are two, three or four 5-methylcytosines. The goal of the present work is to study in detail the composition of recognition sequence and effect of the methylated cytosines on the efficiency of DNA cleavage by the methyl-directed DNA endonuclease GlaI RESULTS: In a recent work we have studied the dependence of GlaI activity on the quantity and location of 5-methylcytosines in the enzyme recognition sequence 5'-GCGC-3'/3'-CGCG-5'. A significant DNA cleavage has been observed for oligonucleotide duplexes, which include either three or four 5-methylcytosines. In this work we have studied dependence of the GlaI activity on quantity and location of methylated cytosines, as well as on composition of the recognition sequence. CONCLUSION: The list of good substrates for GlaI includes a fully methylated site 5'-CGCG-3'/3'-GCGC-5', sites with three cytosines of a general structure 5'-PuMGM-3'/3'-PyGMG-5', and one recognition sequence with two methylated cytosines 5'-AMGT-3'/3'-TGMA-5', where M is 5-methylcytosine.GlaI intermediate substrates include sites with three methylated cytosines of a general structure 5'-GMPuM-3'/3'-MGPyG-5', as well as a site with two methylcytosines 5'-GMGT-3'/3'-CGMA-5'. The site 5'-GMGC-3'/3'-CGMG-5' may be considered a low activity substrate.