DpnI
DpnI is a Type IIM restriction endonuclease isolated from Streptococcus pneumonae. It recognizes and cuts methylated DNA at the sequence Gm6A↓TC.
Structure
The structure of DpnI comprises an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal winged helix DNA binding domain, both of which show specificity for the methylated GATC sequence. The catalytic domain is disordered in solution and becomes ordered upon binding DNA.Uses in molecular biology
DpnI is commonly used to digest template DNA after site-directed mutagenesis. Most strains of E. coli used in molecular biology express DNA [adenine methylase|Dam methylase], a protein that methylates DNA at the sequence GATC. Adding DpnI to the product of a PCR reaction digests only the template DNA, as the template DNA was isolated from E. coli and will have methylation at this sequence while the newly synthesized DNA will not. DpnI is widely available commercially, both alone and in "KLD" enzyme mixes containing kinase and ligase enzymes for treatment of site-directed mutagenesis reactions.DpnI is also used to digest methylated GATC sequences in DamID, a technique that uses Dam methylation combined with sequencing to identify protein-DNA interactions.