Partial purification and characterization of RalF40I, a class II restriction endonuclease from Ruminococcus albus F-40, which recognizes and cleaves 5'-/GATC-3'.

Restriction endonuclease RalF40I was purified from cell-free extracts of the rumen cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus albus F-40 heparin-Sepharose chromatography. The preparation was active only on DNA substrates that were not Dammethylated. RalF401 recognizes the 4-bp palindrome, 5'-/GATC-3', and cleaves DNA at the 5' side of G in the sequence, producing 5' tetranucleotide protruding ends. RalF40I is a class II restriction endonuclease and an isoschizomer of MboI and DpnII.