Question

What type of restriction enzyme is EcoRI?

Answer 1

Restriction enzyme:

1. Restriction enzymes are bacteria-produced enzymes that have the ability to cleave DNA molecules at or near particular base sequences.
2. Bacteriophages are kept at bay by the restriction enzymes.
3. They identify and cleave at the bacteriophage's restriction sites, destroying its DNA.
4. Recognition sequences are short and particular nucleotide sequences in DNA that restriction enzymes recognise.
5. When a restriction enzyme detects a DNA sequence, it hydrolyzes the link between neighbouring nucleotides, causing the DNA molecule to cleave.

Types of restriction enzymes:

1. Type 1: Restriction endonucleases are another name for type I restriction enzymes. They are made up of two long strands of DNA that have been linked together. These restriction enzymes identify certain DNA sequences and cleave them at a specific place.
2. Type II restriction enzymes are composed of four strands of DNA, two on each side. They typically detect two nucleotides on a single strand of DNA and cleave it.
3. Type III restriction enzymes are DNA cutting enzymes that identify DNA patterns that are not always based on DNA sequences.

EcoRI:

1. A type 2 restriction enzyme, often known as a restriction endonuclease, is EcoRI.
2. It makes a precise incision in the DNA double helix.
3. This restriction enzyme was discovered in E.coli.
4. These restriction enzymes were named after the species from which they were derived.