Identification of palindromic sequences recognized by restriction endonucleases, as based on the tabularized sequencing data for seven viral and plasmid DNAs.

Computer search of DNA sequences for phages phi X174, G4, M13 and fd, plasmids pBR322 and pAO3, and virus SV40, was employed to prepare tables specifying the size classes and frequencies of DNA segments located between all possible tetra-, penta- and hexanucleotide palindromes. As described earlier (Fuchs et al., 1978), these tables permit identifying sequences recognized by most of the restriction endonucleases. The effect of sequencing errors on the accuracy of the present identification method is evaluated. Only four of the 224 listed sequences do not appear in any of the seven DNAs, leading to discussion (see Appendix) on the natural sequence distribution.