PRIMING OF DNA POLYMERASE IN NUCLEI OF SEA URCHIN EMBRYOS BY NATIVE DNA

Abstract
Native DNA is a far more effective primer for the DNA polymerase in nuclei obtained from sea urchin embryos than heat-denatured DNA under conditions in which the Mg++ concentration, the amount of primer, the amount of enzyme, and the time of incubation were varied. The consistency of this preference was established with different nuclear preparations and DNA obtained from different sources. The extent of destruction of the ordered helical structure of calf thymus DNA by heat denaturation parallels the decrease in its priming ability.