Characterization of intein homing endonuclease encoded in the DNA polymerase gene of Thermococcus marinus

The DNA polymerase gene of Thermococcus marinus (Tma) contains an intein inserted at the pol-b site that possesses a 1611-bp ORF encoding a 537-amino acid residue. The LAGLIDADG motif, often found in site-specific DNA endonucleases, was detected within the amino acid sequence of the intein. The intein endonuclease, denoted as PI-Tma, was purified as a naturally spliced product from the expression of the complete DNA polymerase gene in Escherichia coli. PI-Tma cleaved intein-less DNA sequences, leaving four-base-long, 3′-hydroxyl overhangs with 5′-phosphate. Nonpalindromic recognition sequences 19 bp long were also identified using partially complementary oligonucleotide pair sequences inserted into the plasmid pET-22b(+). Cleavage by PI-Tma was optimal when present in 50 mM glycine-NaOH (pH 10.5), 150 mM KCl and 12 mM MgCl₂ at 70 °C.