Action of restriction endonucleases on the DNA and chromosomes of Muntiacus muntjak.

Abstract

The restriction enzymes EcoR1, Hpa II and Hae III have been used to cleave nuclear DNA of Muntiacus muntjak. Each enzyme gives rise to a different pattern. Each pattern is characterized by the presence or absence of bands and by the type of distribution of most of the sequences cleaved. Hpa II and Hae III cleave DNA segments which are CCGG and GGCC respectively but they produce quite different patterns with the same DNA. Hpa II builds a gradient of large molecules concentrated mainly between 11.0times103 and 600 base pairs whereas Hae III forms a smear of small molecules concentrated mainly between 3.4times103 and 200 base pairs. This difference in pattern is characteristic of the DNA of over 30 eukaryotic species so far investigated. The action of Hae III on fixed metaphase chromosomes of M. muntjak leads to the appearance of a “hairy” structure and a chromomere pattern which is not present in the controls and which does not show up after EcoR1 treatment. The effect of the enzyme on the chromosomes is not understood at present.