[Restriction system--type II modification in Enterobacter cloacae strains]

Various clinical strains of Enterobacter cloacae have been examined for the presence of site-specific endonuclease activities. Restriction endonucleases of class II have been isolated from six strains. Recognition sequences for all of these endonucleases were determined and the cleavage sites were identified for two of them. The enzymes prove to be isoschizomers of EcoRII and PstI. Restriction endonucleases Ecl2zI and Ecl37kI recognise the nucleotide sequences CTGA/G and are true isoschizomers of PstI. The genes for Ecl54kI and Ecl57kI restriction-modification systems (isoschizomers of EcoRII) were found to be located on the IncN group plasmids, whereas the genes for Ecl2zI and Ecl99kI seem to be located on the chromosomes of host cells.