DNase Specific for Uracil-Containing Bacteriophage DNA.

A DNase from Bacillus subtilis which specifically hydrolyzes native DNA of phage PBS 1 has been purified and characterized. The mode of action of the enzyme is endonucleolytic, yielding deoxyuridine and oliogonucleotides of various sizes. The primary site of enzymatic attack is deoxyuridylic acid in the DNA. A mild nitrous acid treatment of thymine-containing thymus DNA, which deaminates 30% of the cytosine residues, renders the DNA susceptible to the DNase. Nicked DNA from coli phage T5 and hydroxymethyluracil-containing DNA from phage PBS 15 are not sensitive to this DNase.