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AAT Bioquest

How does bacteria protect their own DNA against restriction enzymes?

Posted July 22, 2020


Answer

Bacteria prevent cutting their own DNA by masking the restriction sites with methyl groups (CH3). The methylation process is achieved by the modification enzyme called methyltransferase. Bacterial DNA is highly methylated and is unrecognizable for the restriction enzymes, thus being prevented from cleavage.

Additional resources

Helixyte™ Green *10,000X Aqueous PCR Solution*

6-ROX glycine *25 uM fluorescence reference solution for PCR reactions*

Kessler, C., & Manta, V. (1990). Specificity of restriction endonucleases and DNA modification methyltransferases—a review (Edition 3). Gene, 92(1-2), 1-240.