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6.2: Introduction

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    138996
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    Recombinant DNA technology is possible due to several tools useful for manipulating DNA molecules and transforming cells -- including plasmids, restriction enzymes and DNA ligase.  This lab introduces you to plasmids and restriction enzymes, as well as the lab technique of gel electrophoresis.  Later lab experiments will introduce you to the other tools of biotechnology.

    Restriction enzymes (also called restriction endonucleases) are proteins made by many bacterial species, to defend against viral infections.  Each restriction enzyme moves along a DNA molecule until it finds a specific recognition sequence in the DNA.  The enzyme cuts the double-stranded DNA, resulting in DNA fragments.  Over 3000 restriction enzymes that recognize short (4-8 bp) palindromic sequences have been discovered.  

    Figure 1 shows the recognition sequence for restriction enzyme Hind III.  Notice that the recognition sequence is a palindrome, and reads the same going forwards and backwards.  The Hind III enzyme makes a staggered cut of the DNA, and produces fragments that have single stranded areas called “sticky ends”. 

    This is a complex image depicting the recognition sequence for HindIII and the resulting cut made to DNA.

    Figure 1: Recognition sequence for HindIII and the resulting cut made to DNA.

    Figure 2 shows the recognition sequence of two other restriction enzymes Sca 1 and Pst 1.  Enzyme Pst 1 makes a staggered cut of the DNA at its recognition sequence.  But restriction enzyme Sca I makes a blunt cut at its recognition sequence to generate DNA fragments with no sticky ends.   

    Restriction enzyme Sca I has a recognition sequence of AGTACT. It makes a blunt cut of double-stranded DNA after AGT and generates DNA fragments that do not have single-stranded sticky ends.
    Restriction enzyme Pst I has a recognition sequence of CTGCAG. It makes a staggered cut of double-stranded DNA and leaves a single-stranded sticky end of TGCA.
    Figure 2: Recognition sequence of two other restriction enzymes Sca 1 and Pst 1

    Bacterial cells have all of their genes (genome) in a single circular chromosome.  But bacterial cells can also carry non-essential pieces of DNA called plasmids.  A plasmid is a small circular DNA that is able to replicate itself, and can carry a few genes from cell to cell.  Scientists are able to design recombinant plasmids to carry specific genes into a target host cell.   

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    Figure 12.3: pUC19 plasmid map

    The genetic map of a plasmid “pUC19” is shown in Figure 3.  The total size of the plasmid is 2686 bp. There is a Pst I recognition site at position 439, Hind III recognition site at position 447, and Sca I recognition site at 2179.  If one restriction enzyme is used to cut pUC19 plasmid, what would be produced?  

    Determine what DNA fragments are produced when two restriction enzymes are used to cut pUC19 plasmid DNA.

    Table 12.1  Predicted DNA Fragments from Restriction Digest of pUC19 Plasmid

    Cut with Restriction enzymes 

    Sca I and Pst I

    Sca I and Hind III

    Pst I and Hind III

    Resulting DNA fragment sizes

         



     


    This page titled 6.2: Introduction is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Donna Barron.

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