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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322797
Title: Identification of extrachromosomal circular DNA in hop via rolling circle amplification

Author
item DIAZ-LARA, A - Oregon State University
item Gent, David - Dave
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: Cytogenetics and Genome Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2016
Publication Date: 4/29/2016
Citation: Diaz-Lara, A., Gent, D.H., Martin, R.R. 2016. Identification of extrachromosomal circular DNA in hop via rolling circle amplification. Cytogenetics and Genome Research. 148(2-3):237-240. doi: 10.1159/000445849.

Interpretive Summary: During a survey looking for viruses affecting hop plants in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, a circular DNA molecule was identified via rolling circle amplification (RCA) and later characterized. The small circular DNA was not of viral origin but did show limited homology to a previously reported microsatellite region in the hop (Humulus lupulus) genome. The sequence analysis and literature review suggest that the small ring is an extranuclear DNA element, specifically, an extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). This work is the first report of eccDNAs inside the family Cannabaceae. Consequently, this result points out the utility of using RCA to study extrachromosomal DNA in higher plants.

Technical Abstract: During a survey looking for viruses affecting hop plants in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, a circular DNA molecule was identified via rolling circle amplification (RCA) and later characterized. The 5.7 kb long molecule only matched in a minor cover to a microsatellite region in the Humulus lupulus genome and not any coding sequence was identified. The sequence analysis and literature review suggest that the small ring is an extranuclear DNA element, specifically, an extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). This work is the first report of eccDNAs inside the family Cannabaceae. Consequently, this result rises the idea of using RCA to study extrachromosomal DNA in higher plants.