Adenosine Triphosphatase Associated with Triphosphate-Dependent DeoxyribonucleaQ

An ATPase activity that is completely dependent on DNA is associated with the ATP-dependent DNase (recB-recC enzyme) purified from Escherichia coli. There is a strong correlation between the ATPase and the DNase activities under various assay conditions. With E. coli DNA as substrate, 8-9 molecules of ATP are hydro- lyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate for every phospho- diester bond hydrolyzed by the DNase. The possible func- tional relationship of the ATPase and DNase activities is discussed.