Cleavage of Adenovirus Type 2 DNA into Six Unique Fragments by Endonuclease R·RI

Abstract

The DNA of adenovirus type 2 was cleaved by restriction endonuclease R.RI into six fragments. These fragments were separated by electrophoresis on composite agarose-polyacrylamide gels. Their molecular weights ranged from 1.1 x 10(6) to 13.6 x 10(6), as measured by electron microscopy. Each fragment represented a unique segment of adenovirus type 2 DNA since: (i) the fragments were obtained in equimolar amounts; (ii) the sum of their molecular weights was equal to the molecular weight of complete adenovirus DNA; and (iii) each fragment exhibited a rate of renaturation that was inversely proportional to its size.