Akademik

Restriction endonuclease

An enzyme from bacteria that can recognize specific base sequences in DNA and cut (restrict) the DNA at that site (the restriction site). Also called a restriction enzyme.

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restriction endonuclease n RESTRICTION ENZYME

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see restriction enzyme

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an endonuclease that hydrolyzes deoxyribonucleic acid, cleaving it at an individual site of a specific base pattern. Thus, the enzyme degrades DNA foreign to a cell but spares the cell's own DNA, which is protected by methylation at the recognition site. Restriction endonucleases isolated from bacterial sources are used extensively for sequencing of DNA and recombinant technology.

Medical dictionary. 2011.