Identification and characterization of a mitochondrial endonuclease from yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe mitochondria were isolated from the cells treated with Novozyme 234, and purified in a Percoll gradient. A zymographic assay in a SDS-polyacrylamide gel containing single-stranded DNA revealed that an endonuclease of 32 kDa is associated with the mitochondria. The endonuclease was extracted from the mitochondria with 0.5 M KCl and was partially purified. The 32-kDa enzyme degraded both DNA and RNA at a weak alkaline pH, but preferred single-stranded DNA. The enzyme required Mg2+ or Mn2+, but not Ca2+ or Zn2+ for activity, and was inhibited by 50% with a 150 mM salt solution. Nicks generated by the enzyme could be resealed with T4 DNA ligase, indicating that the enzyme produces 5'-P and 3'-OH ends.