Self-complementarity of terminal sequences within plus or minus strands of adenovirus-associated virus DNA

At least 70% of plus or minus strands of adenovirus-associated virus DNA contain self-complementary sequences at or near their termini. Self-annealing of these sequences generates circular molecules that are closed by duplex, hydrogen-bonded segments. The self-annealed segments are sensitive to exonuclease III and have a thermal stability comparable to that of double-stranded DNA molecules. Length measurements of double-stranded adenovirus-associated virus DNA molecules show a bimodal distribution, with the larger component being 10% shorter than SV40 DNA. The presence of self-complementary terminal sequences in single-stranded molecules of viral DNA has been observed previously only with DNA from adenoviruses. It is thus especially notable that adenovirus-associated virus replication is unconditionally dependent on a helper adenovirus. A possible role for terminal self-complementary sequences in viral DNA replication is suggested.