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Abstract

Using purified enzymes, double strand replication of phage fd DNA has been dissected into several intermediate steps. (i) Phage fd gene 2 protein cleaves supercoiled phage fd replicative form at a specific site in the viral strand (Meyer, T. F., Geider, K., Kurz, C., and Schaller, H. (1979) Nature 278, 365-367). (ii) Relaxed covalently closed circular replicative form DNA which is also formed by gene 2 protein as a side product in the initiation reaction preceding replication is converted into supercoils by DNA gyrase. (iii) The enzyme forms a noncovalent complex at the generated nick that is necessary for initiation of subsequent unwinding. (iv) The Escherichia coli rep helicase (rep protein) and E. coli DNA binding protein I unwind the double-stranded DNA. (v) Concomitant DNA replication by E. coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme results in the formation of rolling circle intermediates. The double-stranded core of the rolling circle remains in an open form, thus allowing continued synthesis during several rounds of replication. (vi) Processing of replicated viral DNA can be subdivided into the cleavage and the circularization of viral single strands. Comparative studies of fd and phi X174 replication in vitro have revealed differences in the kinetics of individual steps besides an apparent contrast in the conformation of rolling circle intermediates in the electron microscopy where fd DNA features extended tails rather than looped-back structures observed for phi X174 DNA.