[Nucleases from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes differing in their effects on chromatin].

A method of isolation of three different, partially purified deoxyribonucleases from the cells of Brevibacterium ammoniagenes is descrirbed. The enzyme preparations were activated by various bivalent metal ions: 50mM MgCl2 (I), 5 mM CaCl2+5 mM MgCl2 (II), 10 mM CaCl2 (III), and had different pH optima -- 8.8 (I), 7.2 (II) and 8.2 (III). In the isolated nuclei of rat brain the first and third fractions split chromatin at the internucleosomal sites with a formation of nucleosomes -- structural subunits of chromatin. The second fraction exhibited no structural specificity for chromatin. A possible use of the enzymes for the analysis of chromatin structure is discussed.