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Telomeric interactions with the nuclear matrix have been described in a variety of eukaryotic cells and seem to be essential for specific nuclear localization. Macronuclear DNA of hypotrichous ciliates occurs in small gene-sized DNA molecules, each being terminated by telomeres. Each macronucleus contains over 10(8 )individual DNA molecules. Owing to the high number of telomeres present in this nucleus it provides an excellent model to study telomere behaviour throughout the cell cycle. In this study we provide experimental evidence that the telomere-telomere-binding protein (TEBP) complex specifically interacts with components of the nuclear matrix in vivo. In the course of replication the specific interaction of the TEBP with components of the nuclear matrix is resolved and an attachment of the telomeres to the matrix no longer occurs.

During macronuclear differentiation in ciliated protozoa a series of programed DNA reorganization processes occur. These include the elimination of micronuclear-specific DNA sequences, the specific fragmentation of the genome into small gene-sized DNA molecules, the de novo addition of telomeric sequences to these DNA molecules and the specific amplification of the remaining DNA molecules. Recently we constructed a vector containing the modified micronuclear version of macronuclear destined DNA sequences that was correctly fragmented and telomeres were added de novo after injection into the developing macronucleus. It therefore must contain all the cis- acting sequences required for these processes. We made a series of vectors deleting different sequences from the original vector. It could be shown that at least in the case studied here no micronuclear-specific sequences are required for specific fragmentation of the genome and telomere addition. However, a short subtelomeric sequence at the 3[prime]-end is essential for these processes, whereas no specific cut seems to occur at the 5[prime]-end. In addition, we can show that the processing activity is restricted to a short period of time during macronuclear differentiation and that a preceding transcription is required for correct processing of macronuclear-destined DNA sequences. Possible mechanisms of these processes will be discussed.

DNA from the hypotrichous ciliatae Stylonychia lemnae was separated by PFGE. In addition to the separation of the macronuclear DNA molecules with a size up to approximately 40 kb, we were able to separate the micronuclear DNA with a size between approximately 90 kb and 2 Mb. One very prominent 90-kb DNA band appeared on the pulsed-field gels. We propose that this 90-kb DNA fragment represents a linear plasmid residing in the micronucleus in a very high copy number. About 10% of the micronuclear DNA consists of the 90-kb DNA molecule. It appears in the micronucleus as well as in the macronuclear anlagen during macronuclear development but not in the mature macronucleus. Thus, the multicopy DNA is eliminated during fragmentation of the macronuclear anlagen DNA in the course of macronuclear development. Therefore, this 90-kb DNA molecule might serve as an excellent tool to study the recognition and elimination of DNA during nuclear differentiation of hypotrichous ciliates.

Ciliates are unicellular eukaryotic organisms containing two types of nuclei: macronuclei and micronuclei. After the sexual pathway takes place, a new macronucleus is formed from a zygote nucleus, whereas the old macronucleus is degraded and resorbed. In the course of macronuclear differentiation, polytene chromosomes are synthesized that become degraded again after some hours. Most of the DNA is eliminated, and the remaining DNA is fragmented into small DNA molecules that are amplified to a high copy number in the new macronucleus. The protein Pdd1p (programmed DNA degradation protein 1) from Tetrahymena has been shown to be present in macronuclear anlagen in the DNA degradation stage and also in the old macronuclei, which are resorbed during the formation of the new macronucleus. In this study the identification and localization of a Pdd1p homologous protein in Stylonychia (Spdd1p) is described. Spdd1p is localized in the precursor nuclei in the DNA elimination stage and in the old macronuclei during their degradation, but also in macronuclei and micronuclei of starved cells. In all of these nuclei, apoptotic-like DNA breakdown was detected. These data suggest that Spdd1p is a general factor involved in programmed DNA degradation in Stylonychia.

On lysis of macronuclei from the ciliated protozoan Oxytricha at 0.5-2 M NaCl, the DNA, which is normally found as discrete molecules ranging from 0.5 to 20 kilobases, appears in high molecular weight aggregates. Various treatments of the macronuclear lysate (i.e., nucleases, proteases, variation of salt, pH, and temperature) indicate that preservation of the aggregate structure depends on both nucleic acid-nucleic acid and nucleic acid-protein interactions. Purification of the DNA-protein complex after lysing the nuclei in 2 M NaCl shows that one major nuclear protein copurifies with the DNA. As shown by DNA-protein binding experiments, this protein has a high affinity for DNA; however, no evidence for sequence specificity of the protein binding was obtained. Chromatin reconstitution experiments suggest that the protein in itself is not sufficient for DNA aggregation in nuclei, but other factors, possibly the native chromatin structure, are required. Electron microscopy of the purified DNA-protein complex showed structures similar to those observed previously with in vitro-aggregated purified macronuclear DNA (14). A model is presented in which the terminal inverted repeat sequences found on all macronuclear DNA molecules interact with each other forming multistranded DNA complexes. The formation of these structures may be accelerated and stabilized by a protein in vivo.

Macronuclear DNA of hypotrichous ciliates exists in the form of gene-sized DNA molecules. It can be resolved on agarose gels into a continuum of sizes upon which is imposed a set of characteristic DNA bands. Most or all of the DNA molecules carry identical terminal inverted repeat sequences. By incubating macronuclear DNA under increasingly stronger ionic conditions, high molecular weight DNA aggregates and ring-like DNA structures are formed. Experimental evidence is presented that this aggregation is not due to the presence of identical single-stranded DNA ends on each macronuclear DNA fragment, and an alternative model for DNA aggregation is discussed.

Evidence is presented that macronuclear chromatin in the hypotrichous ciliate Stylonychia mytilus occurs in discrete fragments, each representing at least single genes. The size of these fragments varies between 3 and more than 70 nucleosomes with an average length of about 18 nucleosomes. This observation is discussed with respect to macronuclear structure of hypotrichous ciliates.

AbstractTelomeric DNA sequences are known to adopt unusual DNA structures upon protonation when contained into negatively supercoiled DNA. In this paper, the structural properties of (T2AG3)ntelomeric sequences of different length is analyzed in detail. Transition to the protonated form is observed at very low pH for (T2AG3)n<8sequences. Formation of the protonated form is facilitated by negative supercoiling. The patterns of chemical modification obtained with different chemical reagents indicate that protonation induces denaturation of the (T2AG3)ntelomeric sequences. Upon denaturation, the “C-rich” strand becomes structured forming, most likely, hairpin-like conformations stabilized by the formation of C+·C pairs and, probably, of A+·A pairs. The “G-rich” strand of the (T2AG3)8sequence shows also signs of becoming structured giving rise to various structural conformers which might include triple- and tetra-stranded conformations. However, in the case of shorter sequences, the “G-rich” strand remains basically single-stranded.

We have developed an episomal replicating expression vector in which the SV40 gene coding for the large T-antigen was replaced by chromosomal scaffold/matrix attached regions. Southern analysis as well as vector rescue experiments in CHO cells and in Escherichia coli demonstrate that the vector replicates episomally in CHO cells. It occurs in a very low copy number in the cells and is stably maintained over more than 100 generations without selection pressure.