Purification and Characterization of Fatty Acid Cyclooxygenase from Human Platelets

Abstract

The fatty acid cyclooxygenase (EC 1.14.99.1) that produces the prostaglandin, thromboxane, and prostacyclin precursor (PGHp), was solubilized from human platelet microsomes in 20 sucrose and 1.0% Triton X-100. The enzyme was purified 300-fold by electrofocusing, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and hydrophobic chromatography on ethyl agarose. The cyclooxygenase catalyzed the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin endoperioxide, PGH₂, that was trapped at ?25°C and separated on TLC at ?20°C. PGH₂ was hydrolyzed to HHT in acidic pH, or was chemically converted to PGE₂ in slightly alkaline pH in the absence of cofactors. The enzyme showed a broad pH optimum in the range of 7–9. Hemin containing substances such as methemoglobin were absolutely required as cofactors, while tryptophan, epinephrine, phenol, and hydro-quinone stimulated the PGH₂ formation. Metal ions, such as Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ inhibited the enzyme reaction at 0.1 to 1 mM.

The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated at 79,432 by sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis at pH 8.0. The properties of the human platelet enzyme was generally similar to the sheep vesicular enzyme in the method of solubilization, pH optimum, and molecular weight.     

Isoelectric and mass characterization of human platelet thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptors

To further characterize the human thromboxane A2 (TXA2)/prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) receptor, preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) was performed on solubilized platelet membranes. TXA2/PGH2 receptors, assayed by specific binding of the TXA2/PGH2 antagonist [125I]PTA-OH, were electrofocused at pH 5.6. Scatchard analysis of IEF fraction pH 5.6 revealed a 180-fold concentration of TXA2/PGH2 receptors (Bmax = 3650 +/- 228 pM/mg focused, 19 +/- 4 pM/mg unfocused) with no change in binding affinity (Kd = 47 +/- 7 nM focused, 36 +/- 14 nM unfocused). SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of photoaffinity-labelled electrofocused receptors revealed concentration of specifically labelled proteins having molecular masses of 49,000 and 27,000 Daltons. These results suggest that the human platelet TXA2/PGH2 receptor has a pI of 5.6, molecular mass of 49,000 Daltons, and may exist as a dimer. Preparative IEF should prove useful in the eventual purification of this receptor.     

Purification and characterization of rat brain prostaglandin D synthetase

Prostaglandin D synthetase was purified 2,600-fold from rat brain to apparent homogeneity, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. The purified enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 27,000 +/- 1,000. The pI value, sedimentation coefficient, and partial specific volume were 4.6, 4.1 s, and 0.73 ml/g, respectively. The enzyme was stable between pH 4 and 11 at the temperature lower than 25 degrees C and resistant to a heat treatment under alkaline conditions (pH 8-11). About 50% of the activity was detected after a heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 5 min at pH 10. However, the enzyme was readily inactivated by the isomerase reaction of prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin D2. The enzyme required sulfhydryl compounds such as dithiothreitol, glutathione, beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, and cysteamine for the reaction, but stoichiometric oxidation of these sulfhydryl compounds was not observed. The optimum pH, Km value for prostaglandin H2, and the turnover number were 9.5, 14 microM, and 170 min-1, respectively. The antibody was raised against the purified enzyme in a rabbit, which showed only one positive band in immunoblotting after gel electrophoresis of crude extracts of the brain at the same position as that of the purified enzyme. More than 90% of the prostaglandin D synthetase activity in the brain was absorbed by an excess amount of the antibody, indicating that our preparation is a major component of the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandin D2 in the brain.     

Human alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase. 1. Purification and properties.

alpha-N-Acetylglucosaminidase was purified from human urine to a state of apparent homogeneity. alpha-N-Acetylglucosaminidase is a glycoprrotein with an extensive charge heterogeneity. The molecular weight determined by gel filtration is 307000. Polycarylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence and presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicates molecular weight heterogeneity of isocharged forms of the purified enzyme. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 4.5 +/- 0.3 and KM and V values of 0.14-0.74 mM, and 1.04-3.68 mumol mg-1 min-1 for three aryl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucosides and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. Heparan sulfate, heparin and dermatan sulfate are competitive inhibitors. The enzyme is inhibited by Hg2+ and Cu2+. --SH-protective reagents and thiol reagents have no effect on the enzyme activity. Heating at 65 degrees C and pH values below 5 inactivate the enzyme rapidly.     

Microsomal 5-ane-3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase from pubertal rat Leydig cells: partial purification and characterization

A 3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase which acts on 5 alpha (beta)-reduced C19 and C21 steroids (5-ane-3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase; 5-ane-3 beta-HSO) has been solubilized from pubertal rat Leydig cell microsomes and purified 300-fold by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The partially purified enzyme is stable only in the presence of 0.4 M NaCl and appears to exist as a molecule having a molecular weight of 35,000 or as aggregates with a molecular weight in excess of 150,000. NAD+ and NADH+ are used exclusively as cofactors. The velocity of the steroid oxidation reaction was unaffected by either Ca2+ or Mg2+. The steroid oxidation reaction has a pH optimum between 8.0 and 8.5, a temperature optimum at 35 degrees C and an activation energy of 12,850 cal/mol. The pH optimum of the steroid reduction reaction is 6.6. A variety of 5 alpha-reduced C19 and C21 steroids can be utilized as substrates. Treatment of microsomes with phospholipase A2 resulted in a 26 to 90% loss of enzyme activity, paralleling decreased microsomal phospholipid content, and suggesting a role for phospholipids in 5-ane-3 beta-HSO activity. Assays with combined substrates indicate that one enzyme is responsible for activities observed with 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reduced C19- and 5 alpha-reduced C21-3 beta-hydroxysteroids. Purification data indicate that the 5-ane-3 beta-HSO and the 5-ene-3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase:isomerase are distinct enzymes.     

Enzymological and immunological studies on a clinical case of platelet cyclooxygenase abnormality

A peroxidase-linked immunoassay of the sandwich type was developed for a quantitative determination of the amount of human cyclooxygenase. Two species of monoclonal antibodies (hPES01 against the human enzyme and PES-5 against the bovine enzyme) were utilized, which recognized different epitopes on the cyclooxygenase of human platelets. The peroxidase activity of the immunoprecipitate was correlated with the amount of cyclooxygenase. The enzyme immunoassay was applied to platelets from 15 normal subjects and a clinical case of platelet cyclooxygenase abnormality with a prolonged bleeding time. Almost the same level of immunoreactive protein was found in platelets of both normal subjects and the patient. However, the solubilized enzyme from the patient's platelets did not transform arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) while thromboxane production from PGH2 was observed at a normal level.     

Purification and properties of bovine liver plasma membrane 5' nucleotidase

5'-Nucleotidase from bovine liver plasma membranes has been extracted by the zwitterionic detergent sulfobetaine 14, and purified to apparent homogeneity. Two affinity chromatographies on concanavalin-A-Ultrogel and 5' AMP-Sepharose 4B followed by AcA-54-Ultrogel filtration resulted in a purification of 16000 times relative to the homogenate. Sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis indicates that the apparent molecular weight of the subunit is 70000. Cross-linking of the native enzyme with dimethylpimelimidate followed by gel electrophoresis shows a band with an apparent molecular weight of 140000 indicating that the enzyme is a dimer. 5'-Nucleotidase is a glycoprotein and its activity is inhibited to different degrees by various lectins, indicating a direct interaction with the enzyme. The purified enzyme shows a sevenfold greater affinity for AMP than the membrane-bound enzyme. The optimum activity of the purified enzyme occurs at pH 7.5 while the membrane-bound enzyme showed a wide range of pH optimum (7.5-8.3). An Arrhenius plot of the membrane-bound enzyme shows a break at 28 degrees C, which disappears in the purified enzyme. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA, and this inhibition was reversed by divalent cations. This, as well as other evidence, indicates that the enzyme contains a highly bound metal cation, perhaps Mn2+ or Mg2+.     

Purified guanylate cyclase: characterization, iodination and preparation of monoclonal antibodies

Guanylate cyclase was purified from the soluble fraction of rat lung using a modification of procedures published previously. The purified enzyme exhibited specific activities, at pH 7.6, of 219-438 nmoles/mg protein/min and 34-60 nmoles/mg protein/min with Mn2+ and Mg2+ as cation cofactors, respectively. The specific activity changed as a function of the protein concentration due to a change in Vmax with no alteration of the Km for GTP. The enzyme migrated as a single band coincident wih guanylate cyclase activity on nondenaturing polyacrylamide and isoelectric focusing gels (isoelectric point = 5.9). Purified guanylate cyclase had an apparent molecular weight of 150,000 daltons as determined by gel filtration chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed a single subunit of 72,000 daltons, suggesting that the enzyme is a dimer of an identical subunit. The purified enzyme could be activated by nitric oxide, indicating that this compound interacts directly with the enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified 9400-fold by affinity chromatography giving rise to an electrophoretically homogeneous preparation. 2. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined by gel filtration with Sephadex G-100 and by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis. Both methods reveal a molecular weight of 51,000. 3. The enzyme requires Mg2+ and has its pH optimum at 8.5. 4. Isoelectric focussing as well as gel electrophoresis of the purified extract reveals a single band which exhibits enzyme activity. The isoelectric point of the enzyme is 5.1. 5. The enzyme displays Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Michaelis constants for hypoxanthine, guanine and phosphoribosylpyrophosphate of 23 microns, 18 microns, and 50 microns respectively.     

豆壳过氧化物酶的分离纯化及其性质研究

从豆壳抽提液经硫酸铵分级沉淀,ＤＥＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＡ－５０离子交换层析,ＣｏｎＡ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４Ｂ亲合层析和Ｂｉｏ－ＧｅｌＰ－６０凝胶过滤,纯化了豆壳过氧化物酶（ｓｏｙｂｅａｎｈｕｌｐｅｒ－ｏｘｉｄａｓｅ,ＳｈＰ）．纯化酶的比活力为７０７７Ｕ／ｍｇ,在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上显示出一条蛋白质带．ＳｈＰ分子量为３８０００,等电点为３．９;ＳｈＰ为一含血红素的糖蛋白,含糖量为１８．７％,光谱学分析揭示,在４０６ｎｍ处有一典型的Ｓｏｒｅｔ带,在５１０ｎｍ和６４０ｎｍ处有特征吸收峰．酶反应的最适ｐＨ在４．０附近,最适温度为４５℃;在ｐＨ２．５～１２．０之间较稳定,７５℃,保温６０ｍｉｎ,酶活力残余６８％,ＳｈＰ是一种良好的耐酸碱、耐热过氧化物酶．动力学分析求得ＳｈＰ的表观Ｋｍ（愈创木酚）为１．６２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,表现Ｋｍ（Ｈ２Ｏ２）为０．３４ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ．在所测定的化学试剂中,Ｎ－３、ＣＮ－、Ｆｅ３＋、Ｆｅ２＋和Ｓｎ２＋对酶有较强烈的抑制作用,而重金属离子Ａｇ＋、Ｈｇ２＋、Ｐｂ２＋、Ｃｕ２＋、Ｃｒ３＋以及ＳＤＳ和ＥＤＴＡ对酶活力无显著影响     

Purification and some properties of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from viscera of green crab (Scylla serrata)

Beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase was purified from viscera of green crab (Scylla serrata) by extraction with 0.01 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 0.2 M NaCl, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and then chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose (DE-32). The purified enzyme showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the specific activity was determined to be 7990 U/mg. The molecular weight of the whole enzyme was determined to be 132.0 kD, and the enzyme is composed of two identical subunits with molecular mass of 65.8 kD. The optimum pH and optimum temperature of the enzyme for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (pNP-NAG) were found to be at pH 5.6 and at 50 degrees C, respectively. The study of its stability showed that the enzyme is stable in the pH range from 4.6 to 8.6 and at temperatures below 45 degrees C. The kinetic behavior of the enzyme in the hydrolysis of pNP-NAG followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km of 0.424 +/- 0.012 mM and Vmax of 17.65 +/- 0.32 micromol/min at pH 5.8 and 37 degrees C, and the activation energy was determined to be 61.32 kJ/mol. The effects of some metal ions on the enzyme were surveyed, and the results show that Na+ and K+ have no effects on the enzyme activity; Mg2+ and Ca2+ slightly activate the enzyme, while Ba2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Hg2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Al3+ inhibit the enzyme to different extents.     

Carbamoyl-phosphate synthase in Phycomyces blakesleeanus

A carbamoyl-phosphate synthase has been purified from mycelia of Phycomyces blakesleeanus NRRL 1555 (-). The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 188,000 by gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that the enzyme consists of two unequal subunits with molecular weights of 130,000 and 55,000. The purified enzyme has been shown to be highly unstable. The carbamoyl-phosphate synthase from Phycomyces uses ammonia and not L-glutamine as a primary N donor and does not require activation by N-acetyl-L-glutamate, but it does require free Mg2+ for maximal activity. Kinetic studies showed a hyperbolic behavior with respect to ammonia (Km 6.34 mM), bicarbonate (Km 10.5 mM) and ATP.2 Mg2+ (Km 0.93 mM). The optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 7.4-7.8. The Phycomyces carbamoyl-phosphate synthase showed a transition temperature at 38.5 degrees C. It was completely indifferent to ornithine, cysteine, glycine, IMP, dithiothreitol, glycerol, UMP, UDP and UTP. The enzyme was inhibited by reaction with 5 mM N-ethylmaleimide.     

Purification and characterisation of leukotriene A4 hydrolase from rat neutrophils

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase was rapidly and extensively purified from rat neutrophils using anion exchange and gel filtration high-pressure liquid chromatography. The enzyme which converts the allylic epoxide leukotriene A4 to the 5,12-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid leukotriene B4 was localized in the cytosolic fraction and exhibited an optimum activity at pH 7.8 and an apparent Km for leukotriene A4 between 2 X 10(-5) and 3 X 10(-5) M. The purified leukotriene A4 hydrolase was shown to have a molecular weight of 68 000 on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and of 50 000 by gel filtration. The molecular weight and monomeric native form of this enzyme are unique characteristics which distinguish leukotriene A4 hydrolase from previously purified epoxide hydrolases.     

Purification of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves and investigation of some kinetic properties

In this study, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.44; 6PGD) was purified from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves, and analysis of the kinetic behavior and some properties of the enzyme were investigated. The purification consisted of three steps that are preparation of homogenate ammonium sulfate fractionation and on DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange. The enzyme was obtained with a yield of 49% and had a specific activity of 18.3 U (mg proteins)(-1) (Lehninger, A.L.; Nelson, D.L.; Cox, M.M. Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd Ed.; Worth Publishers Inc.: N.Y., 2000, 558-560). The overall purification was about 339-fold. A temperature of +4 degrees C was maintained during the purification process. Enzyme activity was spectrophotometrically measured according to the Beutler method at 340 mn. In order to control the purification of the enzyme, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out in 4% and 10% acrylamide for stacking and running gel, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band for enzyme. The molecular weight was found to be 97.5 kDa by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration chromatography. A protein band corresponding to a subunit molecular weight of 24.1 kDa was obtained on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For the enzymes, the stable pH, optimum pH, and optimum temperature were found as 8.0, 8.0, and 50 degrees C, respectively. In addition, KM and Vmax values for NADP+ and G6-P at optimum pH and 25 degrees C were determined by means of Lineweaver-Burk plots.     

Some properties of the pyruvate carboxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The pyruvate carboxylase of Pseudonomas fluorescens was purified 160-fold from cells grown on glucose at 20 degrees C. The activity of this purified enzyme was not affected by acetyl-coenzyme A or L-aspartate, but was strongly inhibited by ADP, which was competitive towards ATP. Pyruvate gave a broken double reciprocal plot, from which two apparent Km values could be determined, namely 0-08 and 0-21 mM, from the lower and the higher concentration ranges, respectively. The apparent Km for HCO3 at pH 6-9, in the presence of the manganese ATP ion (MnATP2-), was 3-1 mM. The enzyme reaction had an optimum pH value of 7-1 or 9-0 depending on the use of MnATP2- or MgATP2-, respectively, as substrate. Free Mg2+ was an activator at pH values below 9-0. The enzyme was strongly activated by monovalent cations; NH4+ and K+ were the better activators, with apparent Ka values of 0-7 and 1-6 mM, respectively. Partially purified enzymes from cells grown on glucose at 1 or 20 degrees C had the same properties, including the thermal stability. In both cases 50% of the enzyme activity was lost after pre-incubation for 10 min at 46 degrees C. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 300000 daltons by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The regulatory properties and molecular weight are thus similar to those determined for the pyruvate carboxylases from Pseudomonas citronellolis and Azotobacter vinelandii.     

Purification and investigation of some kinetic properties of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves

In this study, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49; G6PD) was purified from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves, and analysis of the kinetic behavior and some properties of the enzyme were investigated. The purification consisted of three steps: preparation of homogenate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange chromatography. The enzyme was obtained with a yield of 8.79% and had a specific activity of 2.146 U (mg protein)(-1). The overall purification was about 58-fold. Temperature of +4 degrees C was maintained during the purification process. Enzyme activity was spectrophotometrically measured according to the Beutler method, at 340 nm. In order to control the purification of enzyme, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out in 4% and 10% acrylamide for stacking and running gel, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band for enzyme. The molecular weight was found to be 77.6 kDa by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration chromatography. A protein band corresponding to a molecular weight of 79.3 kDa was obtained on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For the enzymes, the stable pH, optimum pH, and optimum temperature were found to be 6.0, 8.0, and 60 degrees C, respectively. Moreover, KM and Vmax values for NADP+ and G6-P at optimum pH and 25 degrees C were determined by means of Lineweaver-Burk graphs. Additionally, effects of streptomycin sulfate and tetracycline antibiotics were investigated for the enzyme activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in vitro.     

海洋微生物溶菌酶的纯化与性质研究

海洋微生物溶菌酶发酵上清液经超滤、CM-SepharoseFF阳离子交换层析和SephadexG-10 0凝胶过滤层析纯化得到电泳纯的溶菌酶,纯化倍数为34.7,活力回收为24.1%。对纯化溶菌酶性质研究表明,该酶分子量约为39kD ,对溶壁微球菌的最适作用温度为35℃,最适作用pH为8 0 ,在5 0℃以下和pH 5 0～10 0之间都有较好的稳定性,与常见金属离子和化学试剂有良好的配伍性,广谱杀菌,对多种致病菌也有较强的溶菌作用。     

Purification and properties of uroporphyrinogen III synthase from human erythrocytes

Uroporphyrinogen III synthase (hydroxymethylbilane hydro-lyase (cyclizing); EC 4.2.1.75), the fourth enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, was purified to homogeneity from human erythrocytes. For enzyme purification and characterization, a sensitive coupled enzyme assay was used which generated the substrate, hydroxymethylbilane; the oxidized product, uroporphyrin III, was quantitated by high pressure liquid chromatography. Uroporphyrinogen III synthase was initially separated from delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase and hydroxymethylbilane synthase by a preparative anion exchange chromatographic step. Subsequent chromatography on hydroxyapatite, phenyl-Sepharose, and Sephadex G-100 purified the enzyme about 70,000-fold with an 8% yield. Homogeneous enzyme was obtained following a final C4-reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatographic step which removed a single major and several minor protein contaminants from the enzyme. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of over 300,000 units/mg, an isoelectric point of 5.5, and was thermolabile (t1/2 at 60 degrees C approximately 1 min). Molecular weight studies by gel filtration (Mr approximately equal to 30,000) and analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Mr approximately equal to 29,500) were consistent with the enzyme being a monomer. Using hydroxymethylbilane as substrate, the purified enzyme formed uroporphyrinogen III in the absence of hydroxymethylbilane synthase or other cofactors. The pH optimum was 7.4 and the Km for hydroxymethylbilane was 5-20 microM. The enzyme was activated by Na+, K+, Mg+, and Ca2+ and was inhibited by Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and Zn2+. Amino acid composition analysis was performed, and the N-terminal sequence, Met-Lys-Val-Leu-Leu-Leu, was determined by microsequencing. The availability of the purified enzyme should permit investigation of its reaction mechanism as well as facilitate biochemical and molecular studies of the genetic defect in congenital erythropoietic porphyria.     

Purification and characterization of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from bovine platelets

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was purified to homogeneity from soluble fraction of bovine platelets by ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic chromatography, DEAE ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified enzyme has a narrow pH optimum ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 and the molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 143,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate slab gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme requires Ca2+ strictly for activity, which was markedly enhanced in the presence of arachidonate. No enhancement of the activity was observed in the presence of purified calmodulin. The activity was markedly inhibited in the presence of quinacrine but no inhibition by indomethacin was observed.     

Isolation of SAU 96 I restrictase, its physical and catalytic properties

Restrictase Sau 96 I was isolated from Staphylococcus aureus PS 96 and purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose and hydroxylapatite. The preparation was studied by gel filtration on Toyopearl HW-55 and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. The active form of the enzyme is a dimer with a molecular weight of 54,000 +/- 5000 composed of two identical subunits. Catalytic properties of the restrictase were determine; the pH optimum is 8.5-9.0, the optimal concentration of NaCl and Mg2+ is 15-100 mM and 10 mM, respectively. Mn2+ ions at a concentration of 2 mM can replace Mg2+, while Zn2+, Ca2+, Cu2+ ions cannot replace Mg2+. The optimal temperature is 30-43 degrees. Ethanol and glycerol at concentrations more than 10% inhibit the enzyme without changing its specificity; p-chloromercuribenzoate inhibits the enzyme at a concentration of 0.05 mM.