1. Restriction endonucleases have the ability to recognize specific sequences in DNA and cleave it.
2. They are 4 to 8 nucleotides long and characterized by a particular type of internal symmetry.
3. The specific site at which restriction endonuclease cuts the DNA is called recognition site or restriction site.
4. Each restriction endonuclease recognizes its specific recognition sequence.
5. Restriction cutting may result in DNA fragments with blunt ends or cohesive or sticky ends or staggered ends (having short, single stranded projections).
For example, recognition sequence of by the enzyme EcoRI is
3′ —– -CTTAA-G —–5′
5′ —– -G A A T T C —–3′
It is as palindrome, i.e. When read on opposite strand of DNA (3′ to 5′ or 5′ to 3′) it reads same.
When the enzyme EcoRI recognizes this sequence, it breaks each strand at the same site in the sequence i.e. between the A and G residues.
