Widespread occurrence of the restriction endonuclease YenI, an isoschizomer of PstI, in Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O8.

The cold-active restriction endonuclease YenI, an isoschizomer of PstI, was found in 12 of 14 Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O8 strains of different origins, but not in other serotypes of Y. enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, or Yersinia pestis. In spite of the limited number of strains tested, the result suggests that the detection of YenI endonuclease or the gene might result in more rapid determination of the prominently pathogenic serotype of Y. enterocolitica.