[The Chi-like sites free minisatellite insertion in plasmids of pSV2neo family directs conversion of reporter neo gene in LM cell line]

Abstract

Minisatellite loci show variability in copy number of repeat units probably due to their recombinogenic activity. In the presence of minisatellites with Chi-similar sites in plasmids the enhanced frequency of homologous recombination of defective plasmids copies of selectable gene was shown. In this work we have estimated recombinogenic activity of minisatellite DNAs without Chi-similar sites. The restoration frequency of a neo gene and the ratio of restored and not restored copies of this gene in genomic DNA of transformed clones was quantitatively estimated. We conclude that the presence of minisatellite insertion without Chi-similar sites stimulates events of gene conversion in adjacent DNA of plasmids. Plasmids with minisatellites act as acceptors of genetic information.