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The FokI methyltransferase from Flavobacterium okeanokoites

Purification and characterization of the enzyme and its truncated derivatives

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Abstract

The gene encoding the FokI methyltransferase from Flavobacterium okeanokoites was cloned into an Escherichia coli vector. The transcriptional start sites were mapped as well as putative −10 and −35 regions of the fokIM promoter. Enzyme overproduction was ensured by cloning the fokIM gene under the φ 10 promoter of phage T7. M·FokI was purified using a two-step chromatography procedure. M·FokI is a monomeric protein with a M r=76,000±1,500 under denaturing conditions. It contains 21 Arg residues, and at least one of which is required for activity as shown by inhibition using 2,3-butanedione. Deletion mutants in the N- and C-terminus of M·FokI were isolated and characterized. The N-terminal derivative (M·FokIN) methylates the adenine residue within the sequence 5′-GGATG-3′, whereas the C-terminal derivative (M·FokIC) modifies the adenine residue within the sequence 5′-CATCC-3′. Substrate-protection studies, utilizing chemical modification combined with data on the effect of divalent cations and pH on methylation activity, proved the existence of two catalytic centers within the FokI methyltransferase molecule. M·FokI and its truncated derivatives require S-adenosyl-l-methionine as the methyl-group donor, and they are strongly inhibited by divalent cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) and S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine. The K m values for the methyl donor, S-adenosyl-{spl}-methionine are 0.6 µM (M·FokI), 0.4 µM (M·FokIN), and 0.9 µM (M·FokIC) while the Km values for substrate λ DNA are 1.2 nM (M·FokI), 1.4 nM (M·FokIN), and 1.3 nM (M·FokIC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Gdansk, Poland

    Tadeusz Kaczorowski, Marian Sektas & Piotr Skowron

  2. Faculty of Biotechnology UG & MUG, Kladki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland

    Anna J. Podhajska

Authors
  1. Tadeusz Kaczorowski
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  2. Marian Sektas
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  3. Piotr Skowron
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  4. Anna J. Podhajska
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Correspondence to Tadeusz Kaczorowski.

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Kaczorowski, T., Sektas, M., Skowron, P. et al. The FokI methyltransferase from Flavobacterium okeanokoites . Mol Biotechnol 13, 1–15 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1385/MB:13:1:1

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