The bacteriophage P1 modification enzyme, assayed by the specific methylation of unmodified bacteriophage 82 DNA, has been purified 500-fold from a bacteriophage P1 lysogen of Escherichia coli. The enzyme catalyses the incorporation of approximately 20–24 methyl groups per bacteriophage 82 DNA molecule. The sole product of methylation is 6-methylaminopurine. Methylation of unmodified bacteriophage DNA confers protection against a challenge by purified bacteriophage P1 restriction enzyme. The pH optimum is 6.0–6.25: the apparent Km for S-adenosyl-l-methionine is 5×10−6m.
