[New means of isolating restriction endonuclease preparations using organic solvents]

A new procedure is developed for isolation of highly purified preparations of restrictional endonoucleases Bam HI and Eco RI by means of fractionation with isopropyl alcohol. Restrictional endonuclease Bam HI, practically free of unspecific nucleases, was isolated after ultrasonic destruction of cells, precipitation of the restrictases with isopropanol and chromatography on DEAE cellulose. Additional chromatography on hydroxyapatite enabled to obtain the homogenous preparation of Bam HI restrictase, as shown by polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Other organic solvents (acetone, ethanol) might be also used for purification of the restrictional endonucleases.