The first metal-independent restriction enzyme

摘要

Previously it was thought that magnesium ions were necessary before restriction enzymes could cleave the phosphodiester bonds of DNA, but it was found that the restriction enzyme Bfil can do so without metal ions. This article describes the structureof Bfil, as well as the novel way in which its single active site cuts both upper and lower DNA strands. The possibility of using gene therapy based on engineered restriction enzymes is considered.