Chemicals and Drugs

Circular DNA

Any of the covalently closed DNA molecules found in bacteria, many viruses, mitochondria, plastids, and plasmids. Small, polydisperse circular DNA's have also been observed in a number of eukaryotic organisms and are suggested to have homology with chromosomal DNA and the capacity to be inserted into, and excised from, chromosomal DNA. It is a fragment of DNA formed by a process of looping out and deletion, containing a constant region of the mu heavy chain and the 3'-part of the mu switch region. Circular DNA is a normal product of rearrangement among gene segments encoding the variable regions of immunoglobulin light and heavy chains, as well as the T-cell receptor. (Riger et al., Glossary of Genetics, 5th ed & Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Any of the covalently closed DNA molecules found in bacteria, many viruses, mitochondria, plastids, and plasmids. Small, polydisperse circular DNA's have also been observed in a number of eukaryotic organisms and are suggested to have homology with chromosomal DNA and the capacity to be inserted into, and excised from, chromosomal DNA. It is a fragment of DNA formed by a process of looping out and deletion, containing a constant region of the mu heavy chain and the 3'-part of the mu switch region. Circular DNA is a normal product of rearrangement among gene segments encoding the variable regions of immunoglobulin light and heavy chains, as well as the T-cell receptor. (Riger et al., Glossary of Genetics, 5th ed & Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • DNA, Circular
  • Circular DNAs
  • DNAs, Circular

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

IM; /drug eff /ultrastruct permitted

MeSH Record

History Note

74(73)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • DNA (1966-1972)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D13.444w.308w.283w
  2. G02.111.570.820w.486w.212w
  3. G05.360w.580w.156w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Circular DNA. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004270. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004270
  2. Circular DNA. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_DNA
  3. Circular DNA. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2819111