Svensk definition
Enzymer som ingår i restriktions-modifieringssystemen. De ligger bakom ett artspecifikt metyleringsmönster, med verkan på antingen adenin- eller cytosinrester i en kort, specifik bassekvens i värdcellens eget DNA. Denna metylerade sekvens förekommer ofta i värdcellens DNA och förblir intakt under cellens livstid. Varje form av artfrämmande DNA som kommer in i en levande cell och saknar det typiska metyleringsmönstret känns igen av restriktionsendonukleaser med motsvarande specificitet och förstörs genom klyvning. De flesta har studerats i bakteriesystem, men några få har påträffats i eukaryota organismer. EC 2.1.1.113. Syn. DNA-metyltransferas.
Engelsk definition
Enzymes that are part of the restriction-modification systems. They are responsible for producing a species-characteristic methylation pattern, on either adenine or cytosine residues, in a specific short base sequence in the host cell's own DNA. This methylated sequence will occur many times in the host-cell DNA and remain intact for the lifetime of the cell. Any DNA from another species which gains entry into a living cell and lacks the characteristic methylation pattern will be recognized by the restriction endonucleases of similar specificity and destroyed by cleavage. Most have been studied in bacterial systems, but a few have been found in eukaryotic organisms.
Svenska synonymer
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Engelska synonymer
Methylases, DNA Modification — Modification Methylases, DNA — Modification Methylases — Methylases, Modification — DNA Modification Methyltransferases — Methyltransferases, DNA Modification — Modification Methyltransferases, DNA