BtrI, a novel restriction endonuclease, recognises the non-palindromic sequence 5'-CACGTC(-3/-3)-3'.

The recognition sequence and cleavage positions of a new restriction endonuclease BTR:I isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus SE-U62 have been determined. BTR:I belongs to a rare type IIQ of restriction endonucleases, which recognise non-palindromic nucleotide sequences and cleave DNA symmetrically within them.

Thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus B35: influence of divalent metal ions on the interaction with deoxynucleoside triphosphates.

The interaction of DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus B35 (Tte-pol) with deoxynucleoside triphosphates in the presence of different divalent metal ions has been studied. DNA synthesis and competitive inhibition of the polymerase reaction by non-complementary dNTPs are described with corresponding kinetic schemes. The co-factor properties of some metals (Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+) were investigated, and their activating concentration ranges were determined. It was found that kcat values are significantly decreased and Km values slowly decrease when Mn2+ displaces Mg2+. The value of Kd for DNA template-primer is Me2+-independent, whereas Kd values for non-complementary dNTPs decrease in the presence of Mn2+. Tte-pol processivity but not DNA synthesis efficiency is Me2+-type independent.

Highly selective affinity labeling of DNA-polymerase from Thermus thermophilus B35 by a binary system of photoreactive agents.

The thermostable DNA-polymerase from Thermus thermophilus B35 (Tte-polymerase) was affinity labeled by a binary system of photoreagents comprising base-substituted TTP analogs. The 5;-[32P]-labeled primer was elongated by Tte-polymerase in the presence of a TTP analog containing the photoreactive 2,3,5, 6-tetrafluoro-4-azidobenzoyl group (FAB-4-dUTP). Then the reaction mixture was UV-irradiated (365-450 nm) in the presence or the absence of a photosensitizer (TTP analog containing a pyrene moiety, Pyr-dUTP). The initial rate of the Pyr-dUTP-sensitized photomodification was almost 10-fold higher than the rate of direct photomodification (in the absence of Pyr-dUTP); in the case of the sensitized modification, the product of covalent cross-linking of the photoreactive primer with Tte-polymerase was apparently homogenous according to the data of electrophoresis. The enzyme was protected from the photosensitized modification by dNTP. To confirm the selectivity of the photosensitized modification of Tte-polymerase, another DNA-binding protein (human replication factor A, RPA) was added to the reaction mixture. In the presence of the photosensitizer (Pyr-dUTP), RPA was not labeled and only Tte-polymerase was modified, whereas in the case of direct modification, Tte-polymerase and the p32 and p70 subunits of RPA were labeled. The suggested method enables highly selective affinity modification of DNA-polymerases.

Thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus B35: cloning, sequence analysis, and gene expression.

The nucleotide sequences of three thermostable DNA polymerase (Taq, Tth, and Tfl) genes were analyzed and high conserved regions typical for this polymerase family were identified. Using primers for one of the conserved regions, the genomic DNA fragment of T. thermophilus B35 strain was amplified. The resulting fragment was cloned into a plasmid and used as a hybridization probe with digests of T. thermophilus B35 DNA cleaved by different restriction endonucleases. A restriction DNA fragment carrying the full-length Tte polymerase gene was found, cloned, and sequenced. The primary structures of the Tte and Tth DNA polymerase genes were analyzed. The Tte-pol gene was recloned into an expression vector and recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. The properties of Tte-pol in the polymerase chain reaction were investigated.

PsiI, a novel restriction endonuclease recognizing the DNA sequence 5'-TTA downward arrow TAA-3'.

PsiI, a novel restriction endonuclease produced by the bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. SE-G49, has been isolated and characterized. The enzyme cleaves DNA in the middle of its palindromic recognition sequence 5'-TTA downward arrow TAA-3'. Thus, PsiI belongs to a rare group of type II restriction endonucleases whose recognition sites consist of AT base pairs only.

Photoaffinity labeling of DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus and DNA template by photoreactive analogs of dCTP.

Substrate properties of dCTP analogs N4-[2-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoylamino)-ethyl]-2;-deoxycytidine-5; -triphosphate (FABdCTP), 5-[N-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoyl)-3-amino-trans-propen-1-yl] -2;-deoxycytidine-5;-triphosphate (AlFABdCTP), and N4-[2-(2-nitro-5-azidobenzoylamino)-ethyl]-2;-deoxycytidine-5; -triphosphate (NABdCTP) were studied in the reaction of DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA polymerase from the extremely thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus B 35 (Tte DNA polymerase). The enzyme was photoaffinity labeled with the mentioned derivatives, NABdCTP being used for the first time. The photoreactive primers containing FABdCTP and AlFABdCTP were synthesized in situ by Tte DNA polymerase and used in the complementary addressed labeling of DNA template. The efficiency of DNA template labeling is shown to be a function of the structure of the photoactive group.

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding M.FauI DNA methyltransferase.

The enzymes of the FauI restriction-modification system from the Flavobacterium aquatile strain recognize the non-palindromic sequence 5'-CCCGC-3'/3'-GG-GCG-5'. We have cloned the gene encoding the DNA modifying component of this system and determined its nucleotide sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence contains ten conserved motifs characteristic for [cytosine-5] DNA methyltransferases. Part of the gene sequence that encodes the putative target recognizing domain of the M.FauI shows some homology with the downstream region, thus indicating that duplication of the DNA segment was probably involved in the gene evolution.

Actinobacillus and Streptococcus: producers of isoschizomers of the restriction endonucleases R.HphI, R.SauI, R.NheI, R.MboI and R.SwaI.

New restriction endonucleases have been found in microorganisms isolated from the microflora of human teeth. The strain-producers are Actinobacillus suis and Streptococcus milleri. The new enzymes are isoschizomers of the prototypes as follows: AsuHPI - HphI; AsuSAI - SauI; AsuNHI - NheI; AsuMBI and SmiMBI - MboI; SmiI - rare-cutter SwaI.

BstAPI, an ApaBI isoschizomer, cleaves DNA at 5'-GCANNNN NTGC-3'.

Cleavage positions of Bst API, a new restriction endonuclease (ENase) that recognizes palindromic interrupted DNA sequence, have been determined. Recognition sequences and cleavage sites comparison shows that Bst API shares similarity with a number of type II restriction enzymes.

Bsp24I, a new unusual restriction endonuclease.

A new restriction endonuclease, Bsp24I, from Bacillus species 24, recognizing: [formula: see text] has been isolated. Its specificity and cleavage points were determined.

II-Q restriction endonucleases--new class of type II enzymes.

Unique restriction endonucleases Bpu 10l and Bsil have been isolated from Bacillus pumilas and Bacillus sphaericus, respectively. The recognition sequences and cleavage points of these enzymes have been determinated as 5'-CC1TNAGC-3'/3'-GGANT1CG-5' for Bpu 10l and 5'-C1TCGTG-3'/3'-GAGCA1C-5' for Bsil. Restriction endonucleases Bpu 10l and Bsil represent a new class of enzymes which recognize non-palindromic nucleotide sequences and hydrolize DNA within the recognition sequence. Bpu 10l and Bsil recognition sequences may be regarded as quasipalindromic and the enzymes may be designated as type II-Q restriction endonucleases.

The effect of tRNA and tryptophanyl adenylate on limited proteolysis of beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Limited proteolysis of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase was used to detect changes in the enzyme molecule in the presence of substrates. Trypsinolysis of each of the two identical subunits occurs in succession from the N-terminus as follows: 60 leads to 51 leads to 40 leads to 24 kilodaltons. The transition 51 leads to 40 is hindered in tryptophanyl adenylate.enzyme complex. Yeast tRNATrp accelerates the first steps of hydrolysis and decelerates the transition 40 leads to 24. Once tRNATrp is added to the synthetase.adenylate complex, the protective effect of the adenylate disappears. The same effects are found also in the presence of tRNATrp oxidized with NaI04 and tRNATrp lacking the 3'-terminal adenosine. Oxidized tRNATrp (but not tRNATrp without the 3'-A) accelerates tryptophan-dependent hydrolysis of ATP catalyzed by the enzyme. A scheme is proposed for the interaction of yeast tRNATrp with beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase involving the association of tRNA with a positively charged site(s) of the enzyme and the changes in the conformation of enzyme manifesting itself in unfolding of the acidic N-terminal fragment of the polypeptide chain and in the exposure of the adenylate.