Purification and characterization of a Serratia marcescens nuclease produced by Escherichia coli

The primary structure and physical chemical properties were determined of a nuclease expressed and secreted by Escherichia coli. The plasmid p403-SD2 carried a DNA sequence isolated from Serratia marcescens encoding the enzyme. During cultivation of the E. coli cells, 85% of the enzyme was released to the growth medium. The enzyme was purified and exhibited a single band with a molecular weight about 30,600 daltons on SDS-PAGE similar to nuclease isolated from S. marcescens. The amino acid composition and the amino acid sequence determined directly confirmed the primary structure of 245 amino acids predicted from the DNA sequence, and, in addition, the two disulfide bridges were assigned. Several physical chemical properties were examined. The ability of the enzyme to cross the outer membrane is proposed to depend upon the formation of the proper structures during the folding process.