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What is the main function of restriction enzymes in bacteria and archaea?
What is the main function of restriction enzymes in bacteria and archaea?
- Defend against invading viruses by cutting foreign DNA (correct)
- Regulate gene expression
- Repair damaged DNA strands
- Facilitate DNA replication
How do restriction enzymes cut DNA?
How do restriction enzymes cut DNA?
- Make two incisions, once through each sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA double helix (correct)
- Create multiple incisions at random sites on the DNA strand
- Break the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases
- Remove the phosphate groups from the DNA backbone
What is the role of modification enzymes in prokaryotes?
What is the role of modification enzymes in prokaryotes?
- Assist in DNA replication
- Cleave foreign DNA
- Protect host DNA by modifying it (correct)
- Facilitate gene transcription
What is the broader group of enzymes to which restriction enzymes belong?
What is the broader group of enzymes to which restriction enzymes belong?
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How are restriction enzymes commonly classified?
How are restriction enzymes commonly classified?
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Study Notes
Restriction Enzymes in Prokaryotes
- The main function of restriction enzymes in bacteria and archaea is to protect the cell from foreign DNA by cutting it into smaller pieces.
Mechanism of Action
- Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific recognition sites, typically 4-8 base pairs in length, into smaller fragments.
- These recognition sites are usually palindromic, meaning they read the same forwards and backwards.
Modification Enzymes
- The role of modification enzymes in prokaryotes is to modify the host's own DNA, making it resistant to the restriction enzymes.
Classification and Broader Group
- Restriction enzymes belong to the broader group of endonucleases, which are enzymes that cut within a DNA molecule.
- Restriction enzymes are commonly classified into three types: Type I, Type II, and Type III, based on their structure, mechanism, and cofactor requirements.
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