Polyomavirus minichromosomes: associated DNA topoisomerase II and DNA ligase activities.

Polyomavirus minichromosomes were isolated and fractionated as described previously (B. B. Gourlie, M. R. Krauss, A. J. Buckler-White, R. M. Benbow, and V. Pigiet, J. Virol. 38:805-814, 1981). Specific assays for DNA topoisomerase II and DNA ligase activity were carried out on each fraction. The enzymatic activity in each fraction was determined by quantitative electron microscopy and compared with the number of replicative intermediate and total polyomavirus DNA molecules in each fraction. DNA topoisomerase II activity cosedimented with polyomavirus replicative intermediate minichromosomes. DNA ligase activity cosedimented with mature polyomavirus minichromosomes.