Frequent occurrence of recognition site-like sequences in the restriction endonucleases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are two different theories about the development of the genetic code. Woese suggested that it was developed in connection with the amino acid repertoire, while Crick argued that any connection between codons and amino acids is only the result of an "accident". This question is fundamental to understand the nature of specific protein-nucleic acid interactions.

Results

The nature of specific protein-nucleic acid interaction between restriction endonucleases (RE) and their recognition sequences (RS) was studied by bioinformatics methods. It was found that the frequency of 5-6 residue long RS-like oligonucleotides is unexpectedly high in the nucleic acid sequence of the corresponding RE (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 respectively, n = 7). There is an extensive conserva

SUBMITTER: Biro JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC394317 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature