DNA Modification Methylase Activity of Escherichia coli Restriction Endonucleases K and P

  1. Allan Haberman,
  2. Janet Heywood, and
  3. Matthew Meselson
  1. 1The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Abstract

The highly purified restriction endonucleases of E. coli K and coliphage P1 transfer methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine to adenine residues of unmodified DNA. Incubation of unmodified DNA with endonucleases K or P and S-adenosylmethionine renders the DNA resistant to restriction. The enzymes, therefore, have both restriction endonuclease and modification methylase activities.

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