restriction endonuclease

Definition: one of many endonucleases isolated from bacteria that cleave or hydrolyze (cut) foreign double-stranded DNA chains at specific recognition sites defined by DNA sequences; these endonucleases have become standard laboratory devices for making specific cuts in DNA as a first step in deducing sequences and are sometimes referred to as a “chemical knife,” usually named by a three- or four-letter abbreviation of the name of the organism from which isolated (EcoB from Escherichia coli, strain B).

Synonym(s): restriction enzyme

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