Nuclease Rsn from Rhizopus stolonifer: specificity and mode of action

Nuclease Rsn from Rhizopus stolonifer catalyzes the hydrolysis of ss- and dsDNA in a ratio of approximately 2:1. Time course of 3 ′ and 5 ′ terminal analysis of the hydrolytic products of ss- and dsDNA showed that nuclease Rsn does not show any strict base preference and cleaves DNA in a non-specific manner. Moreover, separation of the hydrolytic products of ss- and dsDNA in the presence of Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ or Co 2+ showed the predominance of tetra-, tri-, and dinucleotides followed by mononucleotides, suggesting an endo mode of action.