Restriction Enzyme Detection Made Easier...
Researchers have found that certain enzymes called restriction endonucleases are present in all studied bacteria and are crucial for the bacteria's defense against viruses. These enzymes also have significant applications in biotechnology, playing a vital role in cloning and sequencing procedures. Detecting the activity of these enzymes is important for various purposes.
In a recent study, a new method for detecting restriction enzyme activity was introduced. This method utilizes a process called rolling circle amplification, which creates circular DNA products only when specific DNA substrates are digested by restriction enzymes. The researchers combined the target restriction enzyme's activity with a precise enzyme called Cre recombinase to generate these DNA circles. Remarkably, this allowed them to accurately detect specific restriction enzyme activities even in raw cell extracts.
This breakthrough is the first of its kind, offering a way to measure restriction enzyme activity in raw samples. This new detection system could prove immensely useful for identifying bacterial species or strains based on their restriction enzyme expression. Additionally, it enables quantifying restriction enzyme activities directly in extracts from modified cells, offering a valuable tool for biotechnology applications.
DOI: 10.3390/s22207763
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