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Characterization of the endonuclease SSO2001 from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2
Author(s) -
Han Dong,
Krauss Gerhard
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.01.024
Subject(s) - sulfolobus solfataricus , sulfolobus , endonuclease , crispr , archaea , nuclease , gene , biology , biochemistry , oligonucleotide , dna , rna , genetics , chemistry
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and their associated protein genes ( cas genes) have been suggested to act as an immune system in archaea and bacteria mimicking the eukaryotic RNA interference (RNAi) system. We have investigated the properties of the protein SSO2001 from Sulfolobus solfataricus ( Sso ) P2, which is part of the cas gene cluster. This study shows that SSO2001 is an endonuclease specifically digesting double‐stranded oligonucleotides and preferably cleaving at G:C pairs. Point mutations identify both highly conserved aspartate and glutamate residues as being crucial for the nuclease activity. The catalytic activity shows an optimum at neutral pH and pH 3.