Abstract
Three kinds of deoxyribonucleases (peaks A, B, and C) were separated from purified rat liver nuclei on DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, and their characteristics were partially studied. Peaks A and B had endonuclease activities under acidic conditions with low substrate specificity and did not require divalent metal ions. Peak C had an exonuclease activity under alkaline conditions with substrate specificity for denatured DNA or single stranded homopolymer and required divalent cations. Peak C degraded 3′-terminally mismatched substrate much faster than 3′-terminally matched substrate.