Characterization of the Escherichia coli X-ray endonuclease, endonuclease III

The X-ray endonuclease endonuclease III of Escherichia coli has been purified to apparent homogeneity by using the criterion of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The most purified fraction shows endonucleolytic activity against apurinic and apyrimidinic (AP) sites and a dose-dependent response to DNA that has been X irradiated, UV irradiated, or treated with OsO4. The endonuclease also nicks OsO4-treated DNA that has been subsequently treated with alkali to produce fragmented thymine residues and DNA treated with potassium permanganate. The enzyme does not incise the alkali-labile sites present in DNA X irradiated in vitro in the presence of hydroxyl radical scavengers. The most purified fractions exhibit two distinct activities, an AP endonuclease that cleaves on the 3' side of the damage leaving a 3'-OH and a 5'-PO4 and a DNA N-glycosylase that recognizes at least two substrates, thymine glycol residues and urea residues. The glycosylase activity is sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide while the AP endonuclease is not.