Summary
The content of 5-methylcytosine (5MC) and 6-methyladenine (6MA) in modified and nonmodified DNAs from B. subtilis and B. subtilis phage SPP1 were determined. Nonmodified SPP1 · O DNA contains about 15 5MC residues/molecule. Each modified SPP1 ·R DNA molecule carries 190 modification specific methyl groups. This number is sufficient to account for modification of the 80 restriction sites in SPP1 DNA (Bron and Murray, 1975) against endo R · Bsu R, assuming each modified site contains two 5MC residues. Resistance of SP01 DNA against endo R · Bsu R restriction both in vivo and in vitro is probably not due to methylation of endo R·Bsu R recognition sites.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boyer, H. W.: Restriction and modification of DNA: Enzymes and substrates. Fed. Proc. 33, 1125–1127 (1974)
Bron, S., Murray, K.: Restriction and Modification in B. subtilis. Nucleotide sequence recognized by restriction endonuclease R · Bsu R from strain R. Molec. gen. Genet. (in press) 1975
Bron, S., Murray, K., Trautner, T. A.: Restriction and Modification in B. subtilis. Purification and general properties of a restriction endonuclease from strain R. Molec. gen. Genet. (in press) 1975
Esche, H., Schweiger, M., Trautner, T. A.: Gene expression of bacteriophage SPP1: I. Phage directed protein synthesis. Molec. gen. Genet. (in press) 1975
Fink, R. M., Fink, K.: Relative retention of 3H and 14C-labels of nucleotides incorporated into nucleic acids of neurospora. J. biol. Chem. 237, 2889–2891 (1962)
Gough, M., Lederberg, S.: Methylated bases in the host-modified DNA of E. coli and bacteriophage λ. J. Bact. 91, 1460–1468 (1966)
Günthert, U.: DNA-Methylierung während der Entwicklung von Pro- und Eukaryonten. Ph. D. Thesis, Tübingen, 1975
Kappler, J. W.: The 5MC content of DNA: Tissue specificity. J. cell. Physiol. 78, 33–36 (1971)
Mamelak, L., Boyer, H. W.: Genetic control of the secondary modification of DNA in E. coli. J. Bact. 104, 57–62 (1970)
Marinus, M. G., Morris, N. R.: Biological function for 6MA residues in the DNA of E. coli K12. J. molec. Biol. 85, 309–322 (1974)
Okubo, S., Strauss, B., Stodolsky, M.: The possible role of recombination in the infection of competent B. subtilis by bacteriophage DNA. Virology 24, 552–562 (1964)
Riva, S., Polsinelli, M., Falaschi, A.: A new phage of B. subtilis with infectious DNA having separable strands. J. molec. Biol. 35, 347–356 (1968)
Smith, H. O., Nathans, D.: A suggested nomenclature for bacterial host modification and restriction systems and their enzymes. J. molec. Biol 81, 419–423 (1973)
Smith, J. D., Arber, W., Kühnlein, U.: Host specificity of DNA produced by E. coli. XIV. The role of nucleotide methylation in in vivo B-specific modification. J. molec. Biol. 63, 1–8 (1972)
Spatz, H. Ch., Trautner, T. A.: One way to do experiments on gene conversion? Molec. gen. Genet. 109, 84–106 (1970)
Spatz, H. Ch., Trautner, T. A.: One role of recombination in transfection of B. subtilis. Molec. gen. Genet. 113, 174–190 (1971)
Spizizen, J.: Transformation of biochemically deficient strains of Bacillus subtilis by deoxyribonucleate. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. Wash. 44, 1072–1078 (1958)
Trautner, T. A., Pawlek, B., Bron, S., Anagnostopoulos, C.: Restriction and modification in B. subtilis. Biological Aspects. Molec. gen. Genet. 131, 181–191 (1974)
Wyatt, G. R., Cohen, S. S.: The bases of the nucleic acids of some bacterial and animal viruses: The occurrence of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Biochem. J. 55, 774–782 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by W. Arber
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Günthert, U., Stutz, J. & Klotz, G. Restriction and modification in B. subtilis . Molec. Gen. Genet. 142, 185–191 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425644
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425644