Taxono-specificity of restriction endonucleases 制限酵素の細菌分類群による特異性：　大腸菌とピロリ菌を中心に

旧ソ連の生命科学とパイオテクノロジーの研究のひとつの中心は、今は独立したリトアニアの首都ビリニュスにありました。ヤヌライティス教授は、そのリーダーです。ＩＵＢＭＢ（国際生化学分子生物学連合）の会議ＤＮＡ Enzymes http://biochem.iisc.ernet.in/～meetings/へ出席の機会に、胃ガンの原因と考えられているピロリ菌と臨床分離大腸菌が持つ様々な制限酵素修飾酵素について話して頂きます。

Numerous different site specificities can be found among different strains of one species of bacteria. Enzymes with the same site specificity (isoschisomers) can be found in widely varying taxonomic groups. Is there any limitations on the specificities of restriction modification (R-M) enzymes in a given species of a bacteria? We have carried out a large scale screening of E.coli and H.pylori strains for restriction endonucleases and (eventually) methyltransferases and characterized their specificity. The evidence on the limited variability of R-M enzyme specificity within a species (taxonomic specificity) has been obtained. Factors which could be involved in this phenomenon will be discussed.