FAQ: How does the new unit definition relate to the historical unit definition for Nuclease P1?

The historical unit definition for the 3′-5′-Phosphodiesterase activity Nuclease P1 is as follows:

One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme required to liberate 1.0 μmole of acid soluble nucleotides from Torula Yeast total RNA per min at 37 °C in 1X Nuclease P1 Buffer.

This unit definition has been updated to be directly comparable to the 3′-5′-Phosphodiesterase unit definition of Nuclease S1, such that the 3′-5′-Phosphodiesterase activity unit definition of NEB’s Nuclease P1 is as follows:

One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme required to liberate 1.0 μg of acid soluble nucleotides from Torula Yeast total RNA per min at 37 °C in 1X Nuclease P1 Buffer.

This updated unit definition makes NEB’s Nuclease P1 an easy drop-in replacement for Nuclease S1.