Abstract
We evaluated the use of two radiolabeled lambda DNA/Hpa II substrates to detect 5'-->3', 3'-->5' single and double stranded DNA dependent exonuclease and phosphatase activities found as contaminants in restriction and modifying enzyme preparations. Looking for the meaning of the radioactive assays results in a real cloning experience, we performed a cloning simulation assay using the same conditions established for the radioactive assay (enzyme units and pmols of DNA ends). As a result, we found that for degradation percentages of the radioactive DNA substrate per enzyme unit below 0.5, the false positives in the cloning stimulation assay were less than 5%. This conditions could ensure a good performance of the enzyme preparations for cloning experiments. Finally, we described the use of the radiolabeled [gamma 33P] ATP lambda Hpa II DNA substrate to detect 5'-->3' single stranded DNA dependent exonuclease and phosphatase contaminating activities in some critical steps of the purification process of the restriction enzyme Kpn I.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Revista Latinoamericana de Microbiologia |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 31-7 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0034-9771 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- Bacteriological Techniques
- Bacteriophage lambda
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA Modification Methylases
- DNA Restriction Enzymes
- DNA, Viral
- Deoxyribonuclease HpaII
- Drug Contamination
- Escherichia coli
- Exonucleases
- Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
- Radioactive Tracers
- Sensitivity and Specificity