[DNA-methylase from Arthrobacter luteus screens DNA from the action of site-specific endonuclease Alu I].

DNA-methylase was isolated from a cell extract of A. luteus and partially purified by chromatography on phosphocellulose. The purified enzyme methylates DNA of phage lambda and plasmids pBr322, thus making them resistant to a subsequent action of endonuclease Alu I. It has been shown that cytosine is the object of methylation within DNA. This modification does not screen DNA from the action of site-specific endonucleases Sal I, Bam HI, EcoR I, EcoR II, Xho I and Xho II. It has been experimentally demonstrated that the isolated methylase is site-specific and identifies in the DNA the nucleotide sequence 5'-AGCT-3', by methylating cytosine in the DNA.