title: Developing a programmed restriction endonuclease for highly specific DNA cleavage.
abstract: Specific cleavage of large DNA molecules at few sites, necessary for the analysis of genomic DNA or for targeting individual genes in complex genomes, requires endonucleases of extremely high specificity. Restriction endonucleases (REase) that recognize DNA sequences of 4-8 bp are not sufficiently specific for this purpose. In principle, the specificity of REases can be extended by fusion to sequence recognition modules, e.g. specific DNA-binding domains or triple-helix forming oligonucleotides (TFO). We have chosen to extend the specificity of REases using TFOs, given the combinatorial flexibility this fusion offers in addressing a short, yet precisely recognized restriction site next to a defined triple-helix forming site (TFS). We demonstrate here that the single chain variant of PvuII (scPvuII) covalently coupled via the bifunctional cross-linker N-(gamma-maleimidobutryloxy) succinimide ester to a TFO (5'-NH2-[CH2](6 or 12)-MPMPMPMPMPPPPPPT-3', with M being 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine and P being 5-[1-propynyl]-2'-deoxyuridine), cleaves DNA specifically at the recognition site of PvuII (CAGCTG) if located in a distance of approximately one helical turn to a TFS (underlined) complementary to the TFO ('addressed' site: 5'-TTTTTTTCTCTCTCTCN(approximately 10)CAGCTG-3'), leaving 'unaddressed' PvuII sites intact. The preference for cleavage of an 'addressed' compared to an 'unaddressed' site is >1000-fold, if the cleavage reaction is initiated by addition of Mg2+ ions after preincubation of scPvuII-TFO and substrate in the absence of Mg2+ ions to allow triple-helix formation before DNA cleavage. Single base pair substitutions in the TFS prevent addressed DNA cleavage by scPvuII-TFO.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eisenschmidt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lanio
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simoncsits
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeltsch
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pingoud
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wende
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pingoud
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013388:Succinimides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D013388:Succinimides; C051802:triplex DNA; C032138:N-(gamma-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide; D004247:DNA; C025630:CAGCTG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific