Characterization of a Restriction Endonuclease AspJI from Alcaligenes sp. J-482

Alcaligenes sp. J-482 로부터 분리한 제한효소 AspJI의 특성

About 500 bacterial and fungal strains from a wide variety of natural habitats were screened for a new type II restriction endonuclease. Among the 500 species, we selected one species that produced a new restriction endonuclease. This strain has an optimum temperature of $30^{circ}C$ for growth. Morphological, cultural, and physiological characteristics were examined for identification of the isolated strain J-482. This strain was found to belong to the genus Alcaligenes. The restriction endonuclease was named as AspJI and partially purified from Alcaligenes sp. J-482 by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography and gel filtration. Most of other nucleases were removed by the purification steps. The AspJI has a substrate specificity to ${lambda}$ DNA, pBR322 and Adenovirus-2 DNA. For its maximal activity, the isolated enzyme requires $MgCl_2$, which should be at least 12.5 mM and it does not need any other cofactors. It is maximally active in the absence of NaCl and is completely inactivated at 100 mM NaCl. The pH and temperature optima for activity were pH 7.5 and $37^{circ}C$, respectively. The DNA fragments generated by digesting ${lambda}$ DNA, pBR322, and Adenovirus-2 DNA with AspJI were the same as that produced by AatII. This suggests that AspJI is an isoschizomer of AatII.

자연계에서 새로운 제한효소 생산균을 검색하여 한 균주를 선발하고, 형태학적, 생리학적, 생화학적 특성들을 조사하여 Alcaligenes sp.로 동정하고 제한효소의 특성을 조사하였다. Alcaligenes sp. J-482가 생산하는 제한효소를 AspJI으로 명명하였다. AspJI은 pBR322, Adenovirus 2-DNA, ${lambda}$ DNA 등에 대한 절단양식이 AatII와 같아 AatII의 isoschizomer로 추정 되었으며, 효소활성에 12.5mM 이상의 $MgCl_2$를 필요로 하였으며, NaCl에 의하여 저해되었다. AspJI의 반응 최적 온도는 $37^{circ}C$, 최적 pH는 7.5로 확인 되었으며, 내열성을 조사한 결과 $85^{circ}C$이상에서 15분처리 할 때 안전히 실활되는 것으로 관찰되었다.