Atypical DNA-binding properties of class-IIS restriction endonucleases: evidence for recognition of the cognate sequence by a FokI monomer

Endogenous Fluorescence Tagging by CRISPR

Fluorescent proteins have revolutionized biomedical research as they are easy to use for protein tagging, cope without fixation or permeabilization, and thus, enable live cell imaging in various models. Current methods allow easy and quick integration of fluorescent markers to endogenous genes of interest. In this review, we introduce the three central methods, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effectors (TALENs), and CRISPR, that have been widely used to manipulate cells or organisms. Focusing on CRISPR technology, we give an overview on homology-directed repair (HDR)-, microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ)-, and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-based strategies for the knock-in of markers, figure out recent developments of the technique for highly efficient knock-in, and demonstrate pros and cons. We highlight the unique aspects of fluorescent protein knock-ins and pinpoint specific improvements and perspectives, like the combination of editing with stem cell derived organoid development.

Progress and prospects of engineered sequence-specific DNA modulating technologies for the management of liver diseases

Liver diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. The hepatic illnesses, which include inherited metabolic disorders, hemophilias and viral hepatitides, are complex and currently difficult to treat. The maturation of gene therapy has heralded new avenues for developing effective intervention for these diseases. DNA modification using gene therapy is now possible and available technology may be exploited to achieve long term therapeutic benefit. The ability to edit DNA sequences specifically is of paramount importance to advance gene therapy for application to liver diseases. Recent development of technologies that allow for this has resulted in rapid advancement of gene therapy to treat several chronic illnesses. Improvements in application of derivatives of zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), homing endonucleases (HEs) and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR associated (Cas) systems have been particularly important. These sequence-specific technologies may be used to modify genes permanently and also to alter gene transcription for therapeutic purposes. This review describes progress in development of ZFPs, TALEs, HEs and CRISPR/Cas for application to treating liver diseases.

Natural and engineered nicking endonucleases--from cleavage mechanism to engineering of strand-specificity

Restriction endonucleases (REases) are highly specific DNA scissors that have facilitated the development of modern molecular biology. Intensive studies of double strand (ds) cleavage activity of Type IIP REases, which recognize 4–8 bp palindromic sequences, have revealed a variety of mechanisms of molecular recognition and catalysis. Less well-studied are REases which cleave only one of the strands of dsDNA, creating a nick instead of a ds break. Naturally occurring nicking endonucleases (NEases) range from frequent cutters such as Nt.CviPII (^CCD; ^ denotes the cleavage site) to rare-cutting homing endonucleases (HEases) such as I-HmuI. In addition to these bona fida NEases, individual subunits of some heterodimeric Type IIS REases have recently been shown to be natural NEases. The discovery and characterization of more REases that recognize asymmetric sequences, particularly Types IIS and IIA REases, has revealed recognition and cleavage mechanisms drastically different from the canonical Type IIP mechanisms, and has allowed researchers to engineer highly strand-specific NEases. Monomeric LAGLIDADG HEases use two separate catalytic sites for cleavage. Exploitation of this characteristic has also resulted in useful nicking HEases. This review aims at providing an overview of the cleavage mechanisms of Types IIS and IIA REases and LAGLIDADG HEases, the engineering of their nicking variants, and the applications of NEases and nicking HEases.

Targeting individual subunits of the FokI restriction endonuclease to specific DNA strands

Many restriction endonucleases are dimers that act symmetrically at palindromic DNA sequences, with each active site cutting one strand. In contrast, FokI acts asymmetrically at a non-palindromic sequence, cutting ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ strands 9 and 13 nucleotides downstream of the site. FokI is a monomeric protein with one active site and a single monomer covers the entire recognition sequence. To cut both strands, the monomer at the site recruits a second monomer from solution, but it is not yet known which DNA strand is cut by the monomer bound to the site and which by the recruited monomer. In this work, mutants of FokI were used to show that the monomer bound to the site made the distal cut in the bottom strand, whilst the recruited monomer made in parallel the proximal cut in the top strand. Procedures were also established to direct FokI activity, either preferentially to the bottom strand or exclusively to the top strand. The latter extends the range of enzymes for nicking specified strands at specific sequences, and may facilitate further applications of FokI in gene targeting.

Binding of MmeI restriction-modification enzyme to its specific recognition sequence is stimulated by S-adenosyl-L-methionine

Restriction endonucleases serve as a very good model for studying specific protein-DNA interaction. MmeI is a very interesting restriction endonuclease, but although it is useful in Serial Analysis of Gene Expression, still very little is known about the mechanism of its interaction with DNA. MmeI is a unique enzyme as besides cleaving DNA it also methylates specific sequence. For endonucleolytic activity MmeI requires Mg(II) and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet). AdoMet is a methyl donor in the methylation reaction, but its requirement for DNA cleavage remains unclear. In the present article we investigated MmeI interaction with DNA with the use of numerous methods. Our electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed formation of two types of specific protein-DNA complexes. We speculate that faster migrating complex consists of one protein molecule and one DNA fragment whereas, slower migrating complex, which appears in the presence of AdoMet, may be a dimer or multimer form of MmeI interacting with specific DNA. Additionally, using spectrophotometric measurements we showed that in the presence of AdoMet, MmeI protein undergoes conformational changes. We think that such change in the enzyme structure, upon addition of AdoMet, may enhance its specific binding to DNA. In the absence of AdoMet MmeI binds DNA to the much lower extent.

Dynamics and consequences of DNA looping by the FokI restriction endonuclease

Genetic events often require proteins to be activated by interacting with two DNA sites, trapping the intervening DNA in a loop. While much is known about looping equilibria, only a few studies have examined DNA-looping dynamics experimentally. The restriction enzymes that cut DNA after interacting with two recognition sites, such as FokI, can be used to exemplify looping reactions. The reaction pathway for FokI on a supercoiled DNA with two sites was dissected by fast kinetics to reveal, in turn: the initial binding of a protein monomer to each site; the protein–protein association to form the dimer, trapping the loop; the subsequent phosphodiester hydrolysis step. The DNA motion that juxtaposes the sites ought on the basis of Brownian dynamics to take ∼2 ms, but loop capture by FokI took 230 ms. Hence, DNA looping by FokI is rate limited by protein association rather than DNA dynamics. The FokI endonuclease also illustrated activation by looping: it cut looped DNA 400 times faster than unlooped DNA.

Protein assembly and DNA looping by the FokI restriction endonuclease

The FokI restriction endonuclease recognizes an asymmetric DNA sequence and cuts both strands at fixed positions upstream of the site. The sequence is contacted by a single monomer of the protein, but the monomer has only one catalytic centre and forms a dimer to cut both strands. FokI is also known to cleave DNA with two copies of its site more rapidly than DNA with one copy. To discover how FokI acts at a single site and how it acts at two sites, its reactions were examined on a series of plasmids with either one recognition site or with two sites separated by varied distances, sometimes in the presence of a DNA-binding defective mutant of FokI. These experiments showed that, to cleave DNA with one site, the monomer bound to that site associates via a weak protein–protein interaction with a second monomer that remains detached from the recognition sequence. Nevertheless, the second monomer catalyses phosphodiester bond hydrolysis at the same rate as the DNA-bound monomer. On DNA with two sites, two monomers of FokI interact strongly, as a result of being tethered to the same molecule of DNA, and sequester the intervening DNA in a loop.

Simultaneous binding of three recognition sites is necessary for a concerted plasmid DNA cleavage by EcoRII restriction endonuclease

According to the current paradigm type IIE restriction endonucleases are homodimeric proteins that simultaneously bind to two recognition sites but cleave DNA at only one site per turnover: the other site acts as an allosteric locus, activating the enzyme to cleave DNA at the first. Structural and biochemical analysis of the archetypal type IIE restriction enzyme EcoRII suggests that it has three possible DNA binding interfaces enabling simultaneous binding of three recognition sites. To test if putative synapsis of three binding sites has any functional significance, we have studied EcoRII cleavage of plasmids containing a single, two and three recognition sites under both single turnover and steady state conditions. EcoRII displays distinct reaction patterns on different substrates: (i) it shows virtually no activity on a single site plasmid; (ii) it yields open-circular DNA form nicked at one strand as an obligatory intermediate acting on a two-site plasmid; (iii) it cleaves concertedly both DNA strands at a single site during a single turnover on a three site plasmid to yield linear DNA. Cognate oligonucleotide added in trans increases the reaction velocity and changes the reaction pattern for the EcoRII cleavage of one and two-site plasmids but has little effect on the three-site plasmid. Taken together the data indicate that EcoRII requires simultaneous binding of three rather than two recognition sites in cis to achieve concerted DNA cleavage at a single site. We show that the orthodox type IIP enzyme PspGI which is an isoschisomer of EcoRII, cleaves different plasmid substrates with equal rates. Data provided here indicate that type IIE restriction enzymes EcoRII and NaeI follow different mechanisms. We propose that other type IIE restriction enzymes may employ the mechanism suggested here for EcoRII.

Lactococcal plasmid pNP40 encodes a novel, temperature-sensitive restriction-modification system

A novel restriction-modification system, designated LlaJI, was identified on pNP40, a naturally occurring 65-kb plasmid from Lactococcus lactis. The system comprises four adjacent similarly oriented genes that are predicted to encode two m(5)C methylases and two restriction endonucleases. The LlaJI system, when cloned into a low-copy-number vector, was shown to confer resistance against representatives of the three most common lactococcal phage species. This phage resistance phenotype was found to be strongly temperature dependent, being most effective at 19 degrees C. A functional analysis confirmed that the predicted methylase-encoding genes, llaJIM1 and llaJIM2, were both required to mediate complete methylation, while the assumed restriction enzymes, specified by llaJIR1 and llaJIR2, were both necessary for the complete restriction phenotype. A Northern blot analysis revealed that the four LlaJI genes are part of a 6-kb operon and that the relative abundance of the LlaJI-specific mRNA in the cells does not appear to contribute to the observed temperature-sensitive profile. This was substantiated by use of a LlaJI promoter-lacZ fusion, which further revealed that the LlaJI operon appears to be subject to transcriptional regulation by an as yet unidentified element(s) encoded by pNP40.

A new Thermus sp. class-IIS enzyme sub-family: isolation of a 'twin' endonuclease TspDTI with a novel specificity 5'-ATGAA(N(11/9))-3', related to TspGWI, TaqII and Tth111II

The TspDTI restriction endonuclease, which shows a novel recognition specificity 5'-ATGAA(N(11/9))-3', was isolated from Thermus sp. DT. TspDTI appears to be a 'twin' of restriction endonuclease TspGWI from Thermus sp. GW, as we have previously reported. TspGWI was isolated from the same location as TspDTI, it recognizes a related sequence 5'-ACGGA(N(11/9))-3' and has conserved cleavage positions. Both enzymes resemble two other class-IIS endonucleases from Thermus sp.: TaqII and Tth111II. N-terminal amino acid sequences of TspGWI tryptic peptides exhibit 88.9-100% similarity to the TaqII sequence. All four enzymes were purified to homogeneity; their polypeptide sizes (114.5-122 kDa) make them the largest class-IIS restriction endonucleases known to date. The existence of a Thermus sp. sub-family of class-IIS restriction endonucleases of a common origin is herein proposed.

The nicking endonuclease N.BstNBI is closely related to type IIs restriction endonucleases MlyI and PleI

N.BstNBI is a nicking endonuclease that recognizes the sequence GAGTC and nicks the top strand preferentially. The Type IIs restriction endonucleases PleI and MlyI also recognize GAGTC, but cleave both DNA strands. Cloning and sequencing the genes encoding each of these three endonucleases discloses significant sequence similarities. Mutagenesis studies reveal a conserved set of catalytic residues among the three endonucleases, suggesting that they are closely related to each other. Furthermore, PleI and MlyI contain a single active site for DNA cleavage. The results from cleavage assays show that the reactions catalyzed by PleI and MlyI are sequential two step processes. The double-stranded DNA is first nicked on one DNA strand and then further cleaved on the second strand to form linear DNA. Gel filtration analysis shows that MlyI dimerizes in the presence of a cognate DNA and Ca(2+) whereas N.BstNBI remains a monomer, implicating dimerization as a requisite for the second strand cleavage. We suggest that N.BstNBI, MlyI and PleI diverged from a common ancestor and propose that N.BstNBI differs from MlyI and PleI in having an extremely limited second strand cleavage activity, resulting in a site-specific nicking endonuclease.

Mutational analysis of two putative catalytic motifs of the type IV restriction endonuclease Eco57I

The role of two sequence motifs (SM) as putative cleavage catalytic centers (77)PDX(13)EAK (SM I) and (811)PDX(20)DQK (SM II) of type IV restriction endonuclease Eco57I was studied by site-directed mutational analysis. Substitutions within SM I; D78N, D78A, D78K, and E92Q reduced cleavage activity of Eco57I to a level undetectable both in vivo and in vitro. Residual endonucleolytic activity of the E92Q mutant was detected only when the Mg(2+) in the standard reaction mixture was replaced with Mn(2+). The mutants D78N and E92Q retained the ability to interact with DNA specifically. The mutants also retained DNA methylation activity of Eco57I. The properties of the SM I mutants indicate that Asp(78) and Glu(92) residues are essential for cleavage activity of the Eco57I, suggesting that the sequence motif (77)PDX(13)EAK represents the cleavage active site of this endonuclease. Eco57I mutants containing single amino acid substitutions within SM II (D812A, D833N, D833A) revealed only a small or moderate decrease of cleavage activity as compared with wild-type Eco57I, indicating that the SM II motif does not represent the catalytic center of Eco57I. The results, taken together, allow us to conclude that the Eco57I restriction endonuclease has one catalytic center for cleavage of DNA.

Requirements for double-strand cleavage by chimeric restriction enzymes with zinc finger DNA-recognition domains

This study concerns chimeric restriction enzymes that are hybrids between a zinc finger DNA-binding domain and the non-specific DNA-cleavage domain from the natural restriction enzyme FOK:I. Because of the flexibility of DNA recognition by zinc fingers, these enzymes are potential tools for cleaving DNA at arbitrarily selected sequences. Efficient double-strand cleavage by the chimeric nucleases requires two binding sites in close proximity. When cuts were mapped on the DNA strands, it was found that they occur in pairs separated by approximately 4 bp with a 5' overhang, as for native FOK:I. Furthermore, amino acid changes in the dimer interface of the cleavage domain abolished activity. These results reflect a requirement for dimerization of the cleavage domain. The dependence of cleavage efficiency on the distance between two inverted binding sites was determined and both upper and lower limits were defined. Two different zinc finger combinations binding to non-identical sites also supported specific cleavage. Molecular modeling was employed to gain insight into the precise location of the cut sites. These results define requirements for effective targets of chimeric nucleases and will guide the design of novel specificities for directed DNA cleavage in vitro and in vivo.

Winged helix proteins

The winged helix proteins constitute a subfamily within the large ensemble of helix-turn-helix proteins. Since the discovery of the winged helix/fork head motif in 1993, a large number of topologically related proteins with diverse biological functions have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and solution NMR spectroscopy. Recently, a winged helix transcription factor (RFX1) was shown to bind DNA using unprecedented interactions between one of its eponymous wings and the major groove. This surprising observation suggests that the winged helix proteins can be subdivided into at least two classes with radically different modes of DNA recognition.

The FokI methyltransferase from Flavobacterium okeanokoites. Purification and characterization of the enzyme and its truncated derivatives

The gene encoding the FokI methyltransferase from Flavobacterium okeanokoites was cloned into an Escherichia coli vector. The transcriptional start sites were mapped as well as putative -10 and -35 regions of the fokIM promoter. Enzyme overproduction was ensured by cloning the fokIM gene under the phi 10 promoter of phase T7. M.FokI was purified using a two-step chromatography procedure. M.FokI is a monomeric protein with a M(r) = 76,000 +/- 1,500 under denaturing conditions. It contains 21 Arg residues, and at least one of which is required for activity as shown by inhibition using 2,3-butanedione. Deletion mutants in the N- and C-terminus of M.FokI were isolated and characterized. The N-terminal derivative (M.FokIN) methylates the adenine residue within the sequence 5'-GGATG-3', whereas the C-terminal derivative (M.FokIC) modifies the adenine residue within the sequence 5'-CATCC-3'. Substrate-protection studies, utilizing chemical modification combined with data on the effect of divalent cations and pH on methylation activity, proved the existence of two catalytic centers within the FokI methyltransferase molecule. M.FokI and its truncated derivatives require S-adenosyl-L-methionine as the methyl-group donor, and they are strongly inhibited by divalent cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. The Km values for the methyl donor, S-adenosyl-L-methionine are 0.6 microM (M.FokI), 0.4 microM (M.FokIN), and 0.9 microM (M.FokIC) while the Km values for substrate lambda DNA are 1.2 nM (M.FokI), 1.4 nM (M.FokIN), and 1.3 nM (M.FokIC).

FokI dimerization is required for DNA cleavage

FokI is a type IIs restriction endonuclease comprised of a DNA recognition domain and a catalytic domain. The structural similarity of the FokI catalytic domain to the type II restriction endonuclease BamHI monomer suggested that the FokI catalytic domains may dimerize. In addition, the FokI structure, presented in an accompanying paper in this issue of Proceedings, reveals a dimerization interface between catalytic domains. We provide evidence here that FokI catalytic domain must dimerize for DNA cleavage to occur. First, we show that the rate of DNA cleavage catalyzed by various concentrations of FokI are not directly proportional to the protein concentration, suggesting a cooperative effect for DNA cleavage. Second, we constructed a FokI variant, FokN13Y, which is unable to bind the FokI recognition sequence but when mixed with wild-type FokI increases the rate of DNA cleavage. Additionally, the FokI catalytic domain that lacks the DNA binding domain was shown to increase the rate of wild-type FokI cleavage of DNA. We also constructed an FokI variant, FokD483A, R487A, which should be defective for dimerization because the altered residues reside at the putative dimerization interface. Consistent with the FokI dimerization model, the variant FokD483A, R487A revealed greatly impaired DNA cleavage. Based on our work and previous reports, we discuss a pathway of DNA binding, dimerization, and cleavage by FokI endonuclease.

Chimeric restriction enzyme: Gal4 fusion to FokI cleavage domain

Gal4, a yeast protein, activates transcription of genes required for metabolism of galactose and melibiose. It binds as a dimer to a consensus palindromic 17-base pair DNA sequence. It is a member of the third family of proteins that contain zinc-mediated peptide loops that interact specifically with nucleic acids. Gal4 has a very distinctive zinc coordination profile and mode of DNA-binding. Here, we report the creation of a novel site-specific endonuclease by linking the N-terminal 147 amino acids of Gal4 to the cleavage domain of FokI endonuclease. The fusion protein is active and under optimal conditions, binds to a 17 bp consensus DNA site and cleaves near this site. As expected, the cleavage occurs on either side of the consensus binding site(s).

Novel site-specific DNA endonucleases

Site-specific hydrolysis of DNA is common to many biological processes. Three new structures, FokI, I-CreI and PI-SceI, were reported in the past year, providing the first view of type IIs endonucleases and homing endonucleases. Together, they reveal an extraordinary set of new mechanisms by which endonucleases target the hydrolysis of specific DNA sequences.

Site-specific cleavage of DNA-RNA hybrids by zinc finger/FokI cleavage domain fusions

Zinc-finger proteins of the Cys2His2 type bind DNA-RNA hybrids with affinities comparable to those for DNA duplexes. Such zinc-finger proteins were converted into site-specific cleaving enzymes by fusing them to the FokI cleavage domain. The fusion proteins are active and under optimal conditions cleave DNA duplexes in a sequence-specific manner. These fusions also exhibit site-specific cleavage of the DNA strand within DNA-RNA hybrids albeit at a lower efficiency (approximately 50-fold) compared to the cleavage of the DNA duplexes. These engineered endonucleases represent the first of their kind in terms of their DNA-RNA cleavage properties, and they may have important biological applications.

Structure of the multimodular endonuclease FokI bound to DNA

FokI is a member of an unusual class of bipartite restriction enzymes that recognize a specific DNA sequence and cleave DNA nonspecifically a short distance away from that sequence. Because of its unusual bipartite nature, FokI has been used to create artificial enzymes with new specificities. We have determined the crystal structure at 2.8A resolution of the complete FokI enzyme bound to DNA. As anticipated, the enzyme contains amino- and carboxy-terminal domains corresponding to the DNA-recognition and cleavage functions, respectively. The recognition domain is made of three smaller subdomains (D1, D2 and D3) which are evolutionarily related to the helix-turn-helix-containing DNA-binding domain of the catabolite gene activator protein CAP. The CAP core has been extensively embellished in the first two subdomains, whereas in the third subdomain it has been co-opted for protein-protein interactions. Surprisingly, the cleavage domain contains only a single catalytic centre, raising the question of how monomeric FokI manages to cleave both DNA strands. Unexpectedly, the cleavage domain is sequestered in a 'piggyback' fashion by the recognition domain. The structure suggests a new mechanism for nuclease activation and provides a framework for the design of chimaeric enzymes with altered specificities.

Crystal structure of PI-SceI, a homing endonuclease with protein splicing activity

PI-Scel is a bifunctional yeast protein that propagates its mobile gene by catalyzing protein splicing and site-specific DNA double-strand cleavage. Here, we report the 2.4 A crystal structure of the PI-Scel protein. The structure is composed of two separate domains (I and II) with novel folds and different functions. Domain I, which is elongated and formed largely from seven beta sheets, harbors the N and C termini residues and two His residues that are implicated in protein splicing. Domain II, which is compact and is primarily composed of two similar alpha/beta motifs related by local two-fold symmetry, contains the putative nuclease active site with a cluster of two acidic residues and one basic residue commonly found in restriction endonucleases. This report presents prototypic structures of domains with single endonuclease and protein splicing active sites.

Splase: a new class IIS zinc-finger restriction endonuclease with specificity for Sp1 binding sites

A new restriction endonuclease, named Splase, was constructed by genetically fusing the DNA-cleavage domain of the restriction endonuclease Fok1 with the zinc-finger DNA-binding domain of the transcription factor Sp1. The resulting protein was expressed in Escherichia coli., partially purified, and shown to selectively digest plasmid DNA harboring consensus Sp1 sites. Splase was also shown to selectively digest the long terminal repeat of the HIV-1 DNA at Sp1 sites. Splase recognizes a 10-bp DNA sequence and hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds upstream of the binding sequence. The binding specificity of Splase makes this a "rare cutter" restriction enzyme which could be valuable in creating large DNA fragments for genome sequencing projects. The result also presents the opportunity to create other restriction enzymes by altering the binding specificity of the zinc-finger recognition helix.

GCN4 eukaryotic transcription factor/FokI endonuclease-mediated 'Achilles' heel cleavage': quantitative study of protein-DNA interaction

Three proteins, yeast transcription regulatory protein GCN4, M.FokI DNA methyltransferase and R.FokI restriction endonuclease (ENase) were used to attain specific cleavage of DNA at the 18-20-bp GCN4 recognition site. This is a novel version of the 'Achilles' heel cleavage' (AC) technique [Koob et al., Science 241 (1988) 1084-1086]. Since the method employs a class-IIS ENase (R.FokI), which cleaves the DNA outside of its recognition sequence, it leaves the overlapping GCN4-binding intact. Thus, the same GCN4 site can be used in consecutive cleavage reactions. This novel GCN4-IIS-AC technique was applied to study the protein-DNA interaction. Quantitative analysis of the effect of temperature, reaction time, and GCN4 and M.FokI concentrations allowed determination of the GCN4-DNA complex half-life, which was found to be 7 h at 30 degrees C, 18 h at 22 degrees C and over 24 h at 10 degrees C. In addition, conditions for controlled, partial GCN4-IIS-AC digestion of DNA were determined, and applied to the physical mapping of large genomes.

MmeI, a class-IIS restriction endonuclease: purification and characterization

Two restriction endonucleases, MmeI and MmeII, from Methylophilus methylotrophus were purified to homogeneity. Both enzymes belong to the class-II restriction endonucleases (ENases) but exhibit very different enzymatic and physical properties. MmeII is a typical member of class-II ENases. It is a polymeric protein composed of 50-kDa subunits. In contrast to MmeII, MmeI is a monomeric protein of 101 kDa, cleaving a DNA molecule 20/18 nucleotides away from the asymmetric recognition sequence (5'-TCCRAC-3'); therefore, it is classified as a member of subclass-IIS. MmeI has an pI of 7.85 and is active in the pH range 6.5 to 10 with the optimum at 7 to 8. Increasing salt concentration creates an inhibitory effect on MmeI: 40 mM KCl decreases activity by 50%, 100 mM completely inhibits DNA cleavage. Tris.HCl (pH 7.5) at a concentration exceeding 20 mM inhibits MmeI activity. Mg2+ stimulates MmeI in the range of 0.2 to 35 mM, with the optimum between 0.5 and 10 mM.

Interaction of the MboII restriction endonuclease with DNA

The binding of the MboII restriction endonuclease (R.MboII; ENase) to DNA containing its recognition site was investigated using a mobility shift assay. R.MboII forms specific, stable and immunodetectable complexes with its canonical target sequence. The association constant (Ka) of R.MboII was calculated to be 2.8 x 10(9)/M, and is about 10(4)-fold higher than the Ka value for non-specific binding. Based on results obtained after sedimentation of the R.MboII-DNA complex in a glycerol gradient and measurement of the retardation of the complexes in polyacrylamide gels, we conclude that specific binding to the canonical sequence involves a monomer of R.MboII. DNase I footprinting has shown that the enzyme covers 16 nucleotides of DNA on the 5'-GAAGA-3' strand.

Substitutions in conserved dodecapeptide motifs that uncouple the DNA binding and DNA cleavage activities of PI-SceI endonuclease

The PI-SceI endonuclease from yeast belongs to a protein family whose members contain two conserved dodecapeptide motifs within their primary sequences. The function of two acidic residues within these motifs, Asp218 and Asp326, was examined by substituting alanine, asparagine, and glutamic acid residues at these positions. All of the purified mutant proteins bind to the PI-SceI recognition site with the same affinity and specificity as the wild-type enzyme. By contrast, substituting alanine or asparagine amino acids at the two positions completely eliminates strand cleavage of substrate DNA, whereas substitution with glutamic acid markedly reduces the cleavage activity. Experiments using nicked substrates demonstrate that the wild-type enzyme shows no strand preference during cleavage. These results are consistent with a model in which both acidic residues are part of a single catalytic center that cleaves both DNA strands. Furthermore, substrate binding by wild-type PI-SceI stimulates hydroxyl radical or hydroxide ion attack at the cleavage site while binding by the alanine-substituted proteins either stimulates this attack significantly less or protects the DNA at this position. These finding are discussed in terms of possible reaction mechanisms for PI-SceI-mediated endonucleolytic cleavage.

In vivo restriction by LlaI is encoded by three genes, arranged in an operon with llaIM, on the conjugative Lactococcus plasmid pTR2030

The LlaI restriction and modification (R/M) system is encoded on pTR2030, a 46.2-kb conjugative plasmid from Lactococcus lactis. The llaI methylase gene, sequenced previously, encodes a functional type IIS methylase and is located approximately 5 kb upstream from the abiA gene, encoding abortive phage resistance. In this study, the sequence of the region between llaIM and abiA was determined and revealed four consecutive open reading frames (ORFs). Northern (RNA) analysis showed that the four ORFs were part of a 7-kb operon with llaIM and the downstream abiA gene on a separate transcriptional unit. The deduced protein sequence of ORF2 revealed a P-loop consensus motif for ATP/GTP-binding sites and a three-part consensus motif for GTP-binding proteins. Data bank searches with the deduced protein sequences for all four ORFs revealed no homology except for ORF2 with MerB, in three regions that coincided with the GTP-binding motifs in both proteins. To phenotypically analyze the llaI operon, a 9.0-kb fragment was cloned into a high-copy-number lactococcal shuttle vector, pTRKH2. The resulting construct, pTRK370, exhibited a significantly higher level of in vivo restriction and modification in L. lactis NCK203 than the low-copy-number parental plasmid, pTR2030. A combination of deletion constructions and frameshift mutations indicated that the first three ORFs were involved in LlaI restriction, and they were therefore designated llaI.1, llaI.2, and llaI.3. Mutating llaI.1 completely abolished restriction, while disrupting llaI.2 or llaI.3 allowed an inefficient restriction of phage DNA to occur, manifested primarily by a variable plaque phenotype. ORF4 had no discernible effect on in vivo restriction. A frameshift mutation in llaIM proved lethal to L. lactis NCK203, implying that the restriction component was active without the modification subunit. These results suggested that the LlaI R/M system is unlike any other R/M system studied to date and has diverged from the type IIS class of restriction enzymes by acquiring some characteristics reminiscent of type I enzymes.

C-terminal deletion mutants of the FokI restriction endonuclease

We have constructed two C-terminal deletion mutants of the FokI restriction endonuclease by using the polymerase-chain-reaction technique and expressed them in Escherichia coli. The two mutant proteins (MP) of 41 and 30 kDa, were purified to homogeneity and their DNA-binding properties were characterized. The 41-kDa MP specifically binds the DNA sequence, 5'-GGATG/3'-CCTAC, like the wild-type (wt) FokI, but does not cleave DNA. The 30-kDa MP does not bind DNA. The affinity of the 41-kDa MP for the DNA substrate is comparable to that of wt FokI. The 41-kDa MP interacts with its substrate like the wt FokI, as revealed by hydroxyl radical footprinting experiments. In the presence of a DNA substrate, the 41-kDa MP is cleaved by trypsin into a 30-kDa N-terminal fragment and an 11-kDa C-terminal fragment. Addition of the HPLC-purified 11-kDa C-terminal fragment to the 30-kDa MP restores its sequence-specific DNA-binding property. These results confirm that the N-terminal 41-kDa fragment of the FokI ENase constitutes the DNA recognition domain of the ENase.