Multiple forms of nuclear ribonuclease H from Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Three types of ribonuclease H were detected in the isolated macronuclei of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL, partially purified and characterized. They were eluted at around 0.15 M, 0.3 M and 0.4 M of ammonium chloride in phosphocellulose chromatography, and termed H-1, H-2 and H-3, respectively. The partially purified enzymes have following properties. a) These enzymes specifically hydrolyze the RNA moiety of RNA . DNA hybrid. Neither DNA moiety of RNA . DNA hybrid nor the RNA molecule dissociated by heat from RNA . DNA hybrid is hydrolyzed by these enzymes. b) The enzymes are most active at pH 8.5-9.0. c) They require divalent cations such as Mg2+ or Mn2+ for their activities. The optimal concentrations of these cations are different among these enzymes. d) The mode of cleavage by these enzymes is endonucleoytic, producing mostly oligonucleotides and a small amount of mononucleotides which possess 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate termini.