Rapid, large-scale purification and characterization of 'ada protein' (0⁶ methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) of E.coli

The E. coli Ada protein (0⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) has been purified using a high-level expression vector with a yield of about 3 mg per liter of E. coli culture. The 39-kDa protein has an extinction coefficient (E_1%^280nm) of 5.3. Its isoelectric point of 7.1 is lower than that predicted from the amino acid content. The homogeneous Ada protein is fully active as a methyl acceptor from 0⁶-methylguanine in DNA. Its reaction with 0⁶-methylguanine in a synthetic DNA has a second-order rate constant of 1.1 × 10⁹ M^-1 min^-1 at 0°C. Both the native form and the protein methylated at Cys-69 are monomeric. The CD spectrum suggests a low α-helical content and the radius of gyration of 23 Å indicates a compact, globular shape. The middle region of the protein is sensitive to a variety of proteases, including an endogenous activity in E. coli, suggesting that the protein is composed of N-terminal and C-terminal domains connected by a hinge region. E. coli B has a higher level of this protease than does K12.