Question

Question: Describe the activities of the enzymes required to construct a recombinant DNA molecule.

Short answer

Answer

Restriction endonucleases are enzymes that are used to construct recombinant DNA molecules. The enzyme cleaves the phosphodiester bond within the gene of interest.

Step-by-step solution

Recombinant DNA molecules

Recombinant DNA (rDNA) is the name given to DNA molecules produced using genetic recombination techniques, such as molecular cloning. Here, genetic materials from different sources are combined and produce sequences not normally seen in the genome. The recombinant DNA serves as a vector for incorporating a variety of culture or expression genes.

Activities of enzyme used to construct recombinant DNA molecule

Restriction enzymes, for example, are known to create recombinant DNA. It's because they behave as molecular scissors. The DNA fragments are cleaved at a specified spot by these molecular scissors. Enzymes act as a catalyst, cleaving the phosphodiester link between the DNA and creating staggered and blunt ends, which are then utilized to ligate with the gene of interest and make recombinant DNA.

Hence, recombinant DNAmolecule is mostly produced by genetic engineering with the help of restriction endonuclease.