restriction nuclease

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restriction nuclease

A scientist uses a restriction nuclease to cut a DNA strand.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A type of enzyme: A restriction nuclease is a protein that acts as a catalyst to cut DNA molecules at very specific, recognized sequences of nucleotides.
    • Biological function and source: These enzymes are naturally produced by bacteria as a defense mechanism to cut and disable the DNA of invading viruses.
    • Biotechnology tool: In laboratory science, restriction nucleases are essential tools for cutting DNA at precise locations, enabling gene splicing, analysis, and recombinant DNA technology.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The scientist used a restriction nuclease to cut the plasmid DNA at the target site.
    • Different restriction nucleases recognize and cut different DNA sequences.
    • The discovery of restriction nucleases was a breakthrough for molecular biology.
Advanced Usage
  • "Restriction nuclease digestion": The process of using the enzyme to cut DNA into fragments.

    • The first step in cloning is restriction nuclease digestion of the DNA samples.
  • "Restriction nuclease site": The specific short DNA sequence recognized and cut by the enzyme.

    • The gene of interest was inserted into a plasmid at a unique restriction nuclease site.
Variants and Related Words
  • Restriction enzyme (n): The most common synonym for restriction nuclease.

    • EcoRI is a well-known restriction enzyme.
  • Endonuclease (n): A broader category of enzymes that cut within a DNA strand; all restriction nucleases are endonucleases.

    • Unlike exonucleases, endonucleases like restriction nucleases cut internally.
  • Restriction fragment (n): A piece of DNA resulting from being cut by a restriction nuclease.

    • The DNA was separated into restriction fragments by gel electrophoresis.
Synonyms
  • Restriction enzyme: A functionally identical term more frequently used in common laboratory parlance.
  • Molecular scissors: A descriptive, informal term highlighting the cutting function.
Related Phrases
  • "To cut with a restriction nuclease": The standard phrase describing the enzyme's primary action.

    • The vector must be cut with a restriction nuclease before ligation.
  • "Restriction nuclease analysis": A technique for analyzing DNA patterns based on the fragments generated by these enzymes.

    • Restriction nuclease analysis confirmed the identity of the bacterial strain.
restriction nuclease

A scientist uses a restriction nuclease to cut a DNA strand.

Noun
  1. any of the enzymes that cut nucleic acid at specific restriction sites and produce restriction fragments; obtained from bacteria (where they cripple viral invaders); used in recombinant DNA technology