DNA methylase activity was detected in nuclei from pea shoots. The enzyme can only be extracted by low-salt treatment if the nuclei are pretreated with micrococcal nuclease. Only a single enzyme was detected, and it was purified to a specific activity of 1620 units/mg of protein. It has an Mr of 160,000 on gel filtration and SDS/PAGE. Pea DNA methylase methylates cytosine in all four dinucleotides, and this is interpreted to show that it acts on CNG trinucleotides. Although it shows a strong preference for hemi-methylated double-stranded DNA, it is also capable of methylation de novo. Homologous DNA is the best natural substrate. In vitro the enzyme interacts with DNA to form a salt-resistant complex with DNA that is stable for at least 4 h.
