Molecular characterization of extrachromosomal circular DNAs from an embryonal carcinoma cell line induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells in vitro.

Extrachromosomal circular DNAs isolated from a P19 embryonal carcinoma cell line were induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells by retinoic acid and cloned into an EcoRI site of a phage vector. Of the 26 DNA inserts (2.1 kb in average length) analyzed, 16 contained repetitive sequences. Out of 10 DNA inserts with unique sequence, 6 carried linear chromosomal sequences and 4 showed chromosomal rearrangements in Southern blots. Two unique fragments with germline configuration were enriched in circular DNA clone libraries. We assigned the breakpoints of 3 circular DNA fragments to positions in the germline sequence. Patchy short inverted repeats were found in the vicinity of breakpoints. An intrastrand loop structure between such inverted short homology region may be required for the circularization of excised DNA.