Nuclease micrococcal from Staphylococcus aureus

Hydrolyzes 5′-phosphodiester bonds of DNA.

Nuclease Micrococcal (MNase) is the extracellular nuclease of Staphylococcus aureus. The enzyme is an endo-exonuclease .This Endo-exonuclease preferentially digests single-stranded nucleic acids. Thus, nuclease micrococcal activity results in the production of mononucleotides and oligonucleotides with terminal 3′-phosphates. Nuclease Micrococcal is also active against double-stranded DNA and RNA and all sequences will be ultimately cleaved.
Micrococcal Nuclease can be used for the digestion of chromatin to identify the location of nucleosomes

Note: One μmolar unit = approx. 85 A₂₆₀ units, where an A₂₆₀ unit is equivalent to a ΔA₂₆₀ of 1.0 in 30 min at pH 8.8 at 37 °C in a 3.55 mL reaction volume. Light path = 1 cm.