Presence of a bent helix in fragments of kinetoplast DNA minicircles from several trypanosomatid species

James M. Ntambi, Joan C. Marini, James D. Bangs, Stephen L. Hajduk, Hector E. Jimenez, Peter A. Kitchin, Viiu A. Klein, Kathleen A. Ryan, Paul T. Englund

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Some restriction fragments of kinetoplast minicircles from several trypanosomatid species (Leishmania tarentolae, Trypanosoma brucei, T. equiperdum, Herpetomonas muscarum, Crithidia fasciculata, but not T. cruzi) migrate anomalously on polyacrylamide gels. This behavior is probably due to a natural curvature of the helix. Bent helices appear to be a common property of kinetoplast minicircles, and may be important for minicircle function. In the case of T. equiperdum, we present evidence that each minicircle has a single bent region which resides in or near the 'conserved sequence'.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)273-286
Number of pages14
JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1984
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bent helix
  • Kinetoplast DNA
  • Minicircle
  • Trypanosomatid

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

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