EcoRI
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EcoRI (pronounced "eco R one") is a nuclease enzyme isolated from certain strains of E. coli,
In molecular biology, it is a commonly used restriction enzyme. It creates sticky ends with 5' end overhangs. The nucleic acid sequence where the enzyme cuts is G|AATTC, which is a palindrome as the complementary sequence is CTTAA|G.
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[edit] Structure
EcoRI has been cocrystallized with the sequence it normally cuts. This crystal was used to solve the structure [[1]] of the complex.
[edit] Mode of action
Like EcoRV, EcoRI forms a homodimer in solution before binding and acting on its recognition sequence.
[edit] Uses
EcoRI is often used to cut open a plasmid vector to insert a gene-of-interest during gene cloning. EcoRI is prone to exhibit star activity if an excess of salts are present during the digestion.
[edit] See also
- EcoRV, another nuclease enzyme from 'E. coli.
- FokI, another nuclease enzyme from Flavobacterium okeanokoites
[edit] References
- Bitinaite, J., D. A. Wah, Aggarwal, A. K., Schildkraut, I. (1998). "FokI dimerization is required for DNA cleavage." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95(18): 10570-5.