A DNA-dependent ATPase of calf-thymus

A DNA-dependent ATPase has been purified from calf thymus. The enzyme hydrolyses ATP and dATP in the presence of heat-denatured DNA. It does not hydrolyse the corresponding nucleoside triphosphates of guanine, uridine and cytosine. The Km values for ATP and dATP are both 0.62 mM. The enzyme requires magnesium or manganese ions. Its sedimentation coefficient is about 4.4 S. The catalytic activity is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide but is not sensitive to novobiocin and nalidixic acid which are potent inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase. In some cases, during purification, chromatographically distinct additional DNA-dependent ATPase activities were detected. Limited proteolysis or covalent modification of the enzyme in the tissues, or during the first steps of its extraction, are probably responsible for the appearance of these chromatographically distinct forms.