title: Cloning and characterization of the Bg/II restriction-modification system reveals a possible evolutionary footprint.
abstract: Bg/II, a type II restriction-modification (R-M) system from Bacillus globigii, recognizes the sequence 5'-AGATCT-3'. The system has been cloned into E. coli in multiple steps: first the methyltransferase (MTase) gene, bglIIM, was cloned from B. globigii RUB561, a variant containing an inactivated endonuclease (ENase) gene (bglIIR). Next the ENase protein (R.BglII) was purified to homogeneity from RUB562, a strain expressing the complete R-M system. Oligonucleotide probes specific for the 5' end of the gene were then synthesized and used to locate bglIIR, and the gene was isolated and cloned in a subsequent step. The nucleotide sequence of the system has been determined, and several interesting features have been found. The genes are tandemly arranged, with bglIIR preceding bglIIM. The amino acid sequence of M.BglII is compared to those of other known MTases. A third gene encoding a protein with sequence similarity to known C elements of other R-M systems is found upstream of bglIIR. This is the first instance of a C gene being associated with an R-M system where the R and M genes are collinear. In addition, open reading frames (ORFs) resembling genes involved with DNA mobility are found in close association with BglII. These may shed light on the evolution of the R-M system.
authors.affiliation: New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA 01915, USA.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Heiter
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greenough
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Slatko
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C105303:DNA modification methylase BglII, Bacillus subtilis; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific); C024404:BglII endonuclease; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific