Bioinformatic and partial functional analysis of pEspA and pEspB, two plasmids from Exiguobacterium arabatum sp. nov. RFL1109.

The complete nucleotide sequences of two plasmids from Exiguobacterium arabatum sp. nov. RFL1109, pEspA (4563bp) and pEspB (38,945bp), have been determined.

Generation of DNA cleavage specificities of type II restriction endonucleases by reassortment of target recognition domains.

Type II restriction endonucleases (REases) cleave double-stranded DNA at specific sites within or close to their recognition sequences. Shortly after their discovery in 1970, REases have become one of the primary tools in molecular biology. However, the list of available specificities of type II REases is relatively short despite the extensive search for them in natural sources and multiple attempts to artificially change their specificity.

Characterization of BseMII, a new type IV restriction-modification system, which recognizes the pentanucleotide sequence 5'-CTCAG(N)(10/8)/.

We report the properties of the new BseMII restriction and modification enzymes from Bacillus stearothermophilus Isl 15-111, which recognize the 5'-CTCAG sequence, and the nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding them. The restriction endonuclease R.BseMII makes a staggered cut at the tenth base pair downstream of the recognition sequence on the upper strand, producing a two base 3'-protruding end.