Discrete sizes of replication intermediates in Drosophila cells.

The size of DNA replication intermediates from Drosophila cells pulse-labeled with 3H-thymidine for 30-120 sec was determined by electrophoresis in formamide-polyacrylamide gels. Replication intermediates were formed in three discrete size classes, with median lengths of 61, 125 and 240 nucleotides. Replication intermediates in the 125 nucleotide size class occurred most frequently. Two of the three size classes may contain discrete species of replication intermediates about 90-400 nucleotides long. The data also suggested that some larger replication intermediates accumulate in pulse-labeled cells. We concluded that 61 nucleotide molecules give rise to 125 and 240 nucleotide molecules, which then form high molecular weight DNA. Mechanisms for forming these replication intermediates are discussed.