DNA-modifying enzymes

Fundamental knowledge of the structure, function and mechanism of DNA-modifying enzymes has been important not only in understanding how these enzymes perform a myriad of chemical reactions Ml vZvo but also for the development of the field of recombinant DNA technology. The functions of the major groups of enzymes in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, hydrolysis and modification are reviewed, as well as some structural and mechanistic aspects of the restriction endonucleases, ligases and polymerases. 

Vrielink A, Ruger W, Driessen HP, Ereemont PS. Crystal structure of the DNA modifying enzyme fl-glucosyltransferase in the 41. 

L. Holm and C. Sander. 1995. Evolutionary link between glycogen phosphorylase and a DNA modifying enzyme EMBO J. 14 1287-1293. (PuhMed)... 

It is somewhat difficult to imagine how such a structural feat could be accomplished, but there is compelling evidence to support this recombination model. First, genetic analyses have demonstrated that genetic information is definitely exchanged between each strand. Second, DNA modifying enzymes that have the necessary functions for... 

Recombinant DNA technology A term referring to the biochemical manipulation of DNA fragments using DNA modifying enzymes for the purposes of gene cloning. 

The DNA-modifying enzymes play a very crucial role in DNA technology, which has revolutionized traditional as well as modern biotechnology. It can be divided into two classes ... 

DNA-modifying enzymes, which synthesize nucleic acids, degrade them, join pieces... 

Molecular biology makes extensive use of the DNA-modifying enzymes employed by cells during replication, translation, repair, and protection from foreign DNA. A list of commonly used enzymes, their functions, and some of the experimental techniques in which they are utilized is provided in Table 12.2. 

Nature provides a complete bolbox of specific biomolecular reagents, such as ligases, endonucleases, methalyses and another DNA modifying enzymes, which allow for the processing and handling of DNA-nanocluster material with atomic precision and accuracy. 

The crystal structure of a recombinant DNA modifying enzyme -glucosyltransferase has been reported Vrielink, A. Ruger, W. Driessen, H. P. C. Freemont. P. S. EMBO J. 1994, 13, 3413. 

The author wishes to acknowledge the contributions of his colleagues within Whatman International Ltd. who carried out the work described in this review Stephen E. Badger, Brian N. Brook, Jayne A. Cox, Navin D. Pathirana, Michael Streater and David W. Toome based in Maidstone, UK, and Edward T. Butts, Mark L. Koscielny and Linda Lane of Whatman Inc. based in Fairfield, NJ, USA. Acknowledgement is made to John M. Ward and co-workers in the Department of Biochemistry, University College London, UK for collaboration in the studies of DNA-modifying enzymes. 

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