Brain Metabolic DNA in Rat Cytoplasm

Brain metabolic DNA (BMD) is not involved in cell division or DNA repair but is modulated by memory acquisition, sleep processing, and circadian oscillations. Using routine methods of subcellular fractionation, newly synthesized BMD from male rats is shown to be localized in crude nuclear, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions and in two fractions of purified nuclei. Sub-fractionation of the mitochondrial fraction indicates the prevalent localization of BMD in free mitochondria and to a lesser degree in synaptosomes and myelin. Cesium density profiles of homogenate, subcellular fractions, and purified nuclei obtained after incorporation periods from 30 min to 4 h indicate that BMD synthesis takes place by reverse transcription in cytoplasmic organelles. Following the acquisition of the double-stranded structure, BMD is transferred to nuclei. Kinetic analyses lasting several weeks highlight the massive BMD turnover in subcellular fractions and purified nuclei and its dependence on age. Data are in agreement with the role of BMD as a temporary information store of cell responses of potential use in comparable forthcoming experiences.

A Historical and Evolutionary Perspective on Circulating Nucleic Acids and Extracellular Vesicles: Circulating Nucleic Acids as Homeostatic Genetic Entities

The quantitative and qualitative differences of circulating nucleic acids (cirNAs) between healthy and diseased individuals have motivated researchers to utilize these differences in the diagnosis and prognosis of various pathologies. The position maintained here is that reviewing the rather neglected early work associated with cirNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) is required to fully describe the nature of cirNAs. This review consists of an empirically up-to-date schematic summary of the major events that developed and integrated the concepts of heredity, genetic information and cirNAs. This reveals a clear pattern implicating cirNA as a homeostatic entity or messenger of genetic information. The schematic summary paints a picture of how cirNAs may serve as homeostatic genetic entities that promote synchrony of both adaptation and damage in tissues and organs depending on the source of the message.