Purification of a New Restriction Endonuclease from Streptococcus Mutans and Identification of Its Recognition Sequence

SmuE I, a type II restriction endonuclease, has been isolated from Streptococcus mutans serotype E, which is an isoschizomes of Ava II recognizes the palidromic pentanucleotide sequence 5' GG/W/CC 3'. Similarly to Ava II, SmuE I cleaves the sequence, G--G/W/CC, generating 5' protruding fragment termini.