Three different strains of Streptomyces aureofaciens produce the homologous ribonucleases Sa, Sa2 and Sa3. They are all guanylate endoribonucleases, highly specifically hydrolysing the phosphodiester bonds of RNA at the 3'-side of guanosine nucleotides. These enzymes belong to the prokaryotic subgroup of microbial ribonucleases, and are some of the smallest enzymes known.
Defined by 4 residues: GLU:A-56ARG:A-67ARG:A-71HIS:A-86