Homologous and nonhomologous recombination in monkey cells

Though recombinational events are important for the proper functioning of most cells, little is known about the frequency and mechanisms of recombination in mammalian cells. We have used simian virus 40 (SV40)-pBR322 hybrid plasmids constructed in vitro as substrates to detect and quantitate intramolecular homologous and nonhomologous recombination events in cultured monkey cells. Excision of wild-type or defective SV40 DNAs by recombination from these plasmids was scored by the viral plaque assay, in either the absence or the presence of DNA from a temperature-sensitive helper virus. Several independent products of homologous and nonhomologous recombination have been isolated and characterized at the DNA sequence level. We find that neither DNA replication of the recombination substrate nor SV40 large T antigen is essential for either homologous or nonhomologous recombination involving viral or pBR322 sequences.