The isolation and characterization of a sequence-specific endonuclease from Anabaena subcylindrica

Abstract

An endonuclease, AsuI, was isolated from extracts of Anabaena subcylindrica on the basis of gel-electrophoretic analysis of digests of bacteriophage-lambda DNA with the paritally purified extracts. The enzyme requires Mg2+, but no other cofactors. Endonuclease AsuI recognizes the interrupted tetranucleotide sequence: (Formula: see tex), and breaks the phosphodiester bonds indicated by the arrows to leave single-stranded trinucleotide projections at the 5'-termini of the DNA fragments.