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Restriction Enzyme

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 201 Accesses

Synonyms

Restriction endonuclease

Definition

A restriction enzyme is an endonuclease that binds and cuts double-stranded DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence. Some restriction enzymes cut both strands, generating blunt ends whereas others generate sticky ends. Restriction combined with DNA modification, which impede the cutting of the DNA, is a protection system against the introduction of foreign DNA sequences into prokaryotic systems. These enzymes have been instrumental in the development of cloning and genetic engineering techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitat de València, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, APDO. 22085, 46071, València, Spain

    Juli Peretó

Authors
  1. Juli Peretó
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Correspondence to Juli Peretó .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Peretó, J. (2014). Restriction Enzyme. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1368-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1368-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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