PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF EXTRACELLULAR NUCLEASE(S) FROM RUMEN CONTENTS OF BUBALUS BUBALIS

Extracellular nuclease(s) in buffalo rumen fluid were purified from strained rumen fluid by a procedure involving Seitz filtration, acetone fractionation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme resolved into two peaks exhibiting both DNase and RNase activities. The molecular weight of enzyme corresponding to peaks I and II were approximately 30,000 and 12,000 respectively. The properties of enzymes from the two peaks, however, were same. Optimum temperature for both DNase and RNase activities was at $50^{\circ}C$. Whereas DNase activity was stable upto $60^{\circ}C$, RNase activity was stable only up to $50^{\circ}C$. DNase activity recorded two pH optima, one at pH 5.5 and the other at pH 7.0. RNase activity recorded a broad pH optimum between pH 6.0-8.0. pH stability of the enzyme coincided with pH optima for both the activities. DNase activity was stimulated by $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ and inhibited by $Fe^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Hg^{2+}$ and $Ag^+$. RNase activity was also stimulated by $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ and inhibited by $Cu^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Hg^{2+}$ and $Ag^+$. Reducing agents stimulated both the activities.