A thermotolerable restriction endonuclease. Svil, found in Streptomyces violochromogenes D2-5 was purified. For the purification, streptomycin sulfate and ammonium sulfate precipitation was used. Ph osphocellulose P-ll, DEAE-Cellulose and Sephacryl-S200 HR colum chromatography were also performed. The purified enzyme was found to be homogeneous and the molecular weight of the enzyme estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis containing 0.1$%$ SDS was about 32, 000 daltons. The recognition sequence and cleavage site of the enzyme were determined to be $5^1$-$TTdownarrow CGAA$-$3^1$ which is the same sequence as that of Asull. Unlike Asull, however, the Svil shows high thermal stability.