ILLEGITIMATE RECOMBINATION MEDIATED BY MAMMALIAN DNA TOPOISOMERASE II

To understand the mechanism of illegitimate recombination in mammalian cells, we have examined the recombination role of DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II ). We found that purified calf thymus Topo II mediates recombination between two phage $\lambda$ DNA molecules in an in vitro system. The enzyme mainly produced a linear monomer recombinant DNA that can be packaged in vitro. Novobiocin and anti-calf thymus Topo II antibody inhibit this ATP-dependent recombination. The recombinant molecules contain duplications or deletion, and most crossovers take place between nonhomologous sequences of $\lambda$ DNA, as judged by the sequences of recombination junctions. In order to study the effects of Topo II on illegitimate recombination in mammalian cells, we have developed a new shuttle vector, pNKl, which contains three bacterial genes, amp(APR), galK and neo($Km^R$). Using this system, we have shown that a Topo II inhibitor, VM26, stimulated deletion formation in pNK1 DNA in monkey COS1 cells. Both in vitro and in vivo results suggest that Topo II participates in illegitimate recombination in mammalian cells.