title: M.BssHII, a multispecific cytosine-C5-DNA-methyltransferase with unusual target recognizing properties.
abstract: A new multispecific cytosine-C5-DNA-methyltransferase (C5-MTase), M.BssHII, was identified in Bacillus stearothermophilus H3. The M.BssHII gene was cloned and sequenced. The amino acid sequence deduced shows the characteristic building plan of a C5-MTase. By sequencing bisulfite-treated DNA methylated by M.BssHII and by restriction enzyme analysis, we defined the following methylation targets of M.BssHII: ACGCGT/CCGCGG (MluI/SacII), PuGCGCPy (HaeII), PuCCGGPy (Cfr10I) and GCGCGC (BssHII). The relative location of the specificity determinants in the C5-MTase was derived from the analysis of M.BssHII derivatives carrying deletions within the variable region "V" and chimeric C5-Mtases constructed between M.BssHII and the related monospecific enzyme M.phi3TII. Four of the M.BssHII specificities (MluI, SacII, Cfr10I and BssHII) could be associated with amino acid segments within the variable region "V". The determinant for HaeII activity had to be assigned to sequences defining the enzyme core, the first example of a C5-MTase in which a sequence-specific methylation potential is mediated by structures outside of the variable region. Another intriguing result came from the analysis of one particular chimera made between M.BssHII and M.phi3TII. This construct showed a relaxation of the methylation capacity, both with respect to the target recognized and the targeting of methylation within this sequence.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Trautner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D017354:Point Mutation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013447:Sulfites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013447:Sulfites; D004247:DNA; C059638:DNA modification methylase HaeII; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C042345:hydrogen sulfite