Sequence studies on mouse L-cell satellite DNA by base-specific degradation with T4 endonuclease IV

The base sequence of mouse L-cell satellite DNA was investigated by degradation of the two separated complementary strands with the base specific enzyme, T4 endonuclease IV. Digestion of the heavy strand DNA released a limited number of oligonucleotides which were separated by ionophoresis/homochromatography, isolated, and sequenced by the 'wandering spot' method. The light strand DNA was resistant to digestion with T4 endonuclease IV and no detectable amounts of oligonucleotides were released. The oligonucleotides obtained from the heavy strand were related in sequence, indicating that mouse satellite DNA derived from a short tandemly repeated sequence. The sequence of part of the original repeat unit is proposed to be C-A-T-T-T-T-T-C. Five major oligonucleotides were identified, all of which differ from the proposed original sequence by single base changes. The five major oligonucleotides occur with about equal frequency and together comprise approximately 50% of the oligonucleotides released by T4 endonuclease IV from the heavy strand DNA. In addition to the five major oligonucleotides, several oligonucleotides were found to occur in lesser amounts. Since these oligonucleotides are related to the major oligonucleotides, it is likely that they have arisen from them by mutation.