tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36768584.post3898813440697825008..comments2024-03-03T18:49:34.382-05:00Comments on Omics! Omics!: Restriction Endonuclease ReverieKeith Robisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765318239070312590noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36768584.post-82032217812924862362007-08-07T12:00:00.000-04:002007-08-07T12:00:00.000-04:00I'm no expert, but the two general classes of evol...I'm no expert, but the two general classes of evolutionary explanation are<BR/><BR/>1) Defend yourself against foreign genomes (e.g. viruses). <BR/><BR/>2) Restriction/methylation systems as selfish genetic systems which once acquired, can't be evicted.<BR/><BR/>The wide variety of different RE architectures hints that there must be some interesting selection for them -- they keep being invented. Also, there are various papers on converting restriction enzymes to nicking enzymes or vice versa.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.actabp.pl/pdf/4_2001/935.pdf" REL="nofollow">Here is one review</A>, with a strongly protein structural angle.Keith Robisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765318239070312590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36768584.post-21625083706032231182007-08-07T04:27:00.000-04:002007-08-07T04:27:00.000-04:00I know they are useful tools and all, and nobody q...I know they are useful tools and all, and nobody questions, for example, why the Swiss Army needs a spiffy knife. But I've seen very little speculation (apart from my own, ages ago) on the biological function of restriction enzymes.<BR/><BR/>What do you think they are for (apart from being for molecular biologists)?Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04639265958695262241noreply@blogger.com