Engineering a rare-cutting restriction enzyme: genetic screening and selection of NotI variants.

ABSTRACT: Restriction endonucleases (REases) with 8-base specificity are rare specimens in nature. NotI from Nocardia otitidis-caviarum (recognition sequence 5'-GCGGCCGC-3') has been cloned, thus allowing for mutagenesis and screening for enzymes with altered 8-base recognition and cleavage activity. Variants possessing altered specificity have been isolated by the application of two genetic methods. In step 1, variant E156K was isolated by its ability to induce DNA-damage in an indicator strain expressing M.EagI (to protect 5'-NCGGCCGN-3' sites). In step 2, the E156K allele was mutagenized with the objective of increasing enzyme activity towards the alternative substrate site: 5'-GCTGCCGC-3'. In this procedure, clones of interest were selected by their ability to eliminate a conditionally toxic sub

SUBMITTER: Samuelson JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1360745 | biostudies-literature | 2006

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature