How do restriction enzymes recognize a restriction site

Mertz, J. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 69 , — Meselson, M. DNA restriction enzyme from E. Nature , — doi Smith, H. A restriction enzyme from Hemophilus influenzae. Base sequence of the recognition site. Journal of Molecular Biology. Purification and general properties. Journal of Molecular Biology 51 , — Southern, E. Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. Journal of Molecular Biology 98 , — Restriction Enzymes.

Genetic Mutation. Functions and Utility of Alu Jumping Genes. Transposons: The Jumping Genes. DNA Transcription. What is a Gene? Colinearity and Transcription Units. Copy Number Variation. Copy Number Variation and Genetic Disease. Copy Number Variation and Human Disease.

Tandem Repeats and Morphological Variation. Chemical Structure of RNA. Eukaryotic Genome Complexity. RNA Functions. Restriction Enzymes By: Leslie A. Pray, Ph. Citation: Pray, L. Nature Education 1 1 Restriction enzymes are one of the most important tools in the recombinant DNA technology toolbox. But how were these enzymes discovered? And what makes them so useful? Aa Aa Aa. When I come to the laboratory of my father, I usually see some plates lying on the tables.

These plates contain colonies of bacteria. These colonies remind me of a city with many inhabitants. In each bacterium there is a king. He is very long, but skinny. The king has many servants. These are thick and short, almost like balls. My father calls the king DNA , and the servants enzymes. My father has discovered a servant who serves as a pair of scissors. If a foreign king invades a bacterium, this servant can cut him in small fragments, but he does not do any harm to his own king.

Initial Steps in Restriction Enzyme Research. Figure 1. Figure Detail. Learning to Use Restriction Enzymes. Cutting with Restriction Enzymes. Figure 2. Recombining with Restriction Enzymes. Figure 3. References and Recommended Reading Arber, W.

Annual Review of Biochemistry 38 , — Brownlee, C. Journal of Bacteriology 64 , — Mertz, J. Journal of Molecular Biology 51 , — Southern, E. Article History Close. Share Cancel. Revoke Cancel. Keywords Keywords for this Article. Save Cancel. Flag Inappropriate The Content is: Objectionable. Flag Content Cancel. Email your Friend. Submit Cancel. This content is currently under construction. Explore This Subject. Applications in Biotechnology. DNA Replication.

Jumping Genes. Discovery of Genetic Material. Gene Copies. No topic rooms are there. Or Browse Visually. Other Topic Rooms Genetics. Student Voices. Creature Cast. Each restriction enzyme recognises a different and specific recognition site , or DNA sequence.

Recognition sites are usually only short - nucleotides. Restriction enzymes are a basic tool for biotechnology research. Scientists have identified and purified hundreds of different types of restriction enzymes.

They are named after the genus and species of the organism they were isolated from and are given a number to indicate the order in which they were found. DNA consists of two complementary strands of nucleotides that spiral around each other in a double helix.

Sma I is an example of a restriction enzyme that cuts straight through the DNA strands, creating DNA fragments with a flat or blunt end. Other restriction enzymes, like Eco RI , cut through the DNA strands at nucleotides that are not exactly opposite each other. This creates DNA fragments with one nucleotide strand that overhangs at the end. This overhanging nucleotide strand is called a sticky end because it can easily bond with complementary DNA fragments.

Add to collection. Go to full glossary Add 0 items to collection. Download 0 items.