Question

Do eukaryotic cells have restriction endonucleases? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

Eukaryotic cells do have restriction endonucleases, but they are different from the ones found in prokaryotic cells. Restriction endonucleases, also known as restriction enzymes, are enzymes that cut DNA molecules at specific sites. In prokaryotic cells, restriction enzymes are used as a defense mechanism against invading viruses and foreign DNA. In eukaryotic cells, they play a role in DNA repair and gene regulation.

Eukaryotic cells have a different type of restriction enzyme, called a Type II restriction enzyme, which recognizes and cuts DNA at specific sequences. However, unlike prokaryotic restriction enzymes, they do not require ATP or other cofactors for their activity. Eukaryotic restriction enzymes are important in gene editing and molecular biology research, but they are not as widely used as prokaryotic restriction enzymes because they are more difficult to isolate and use in vitro.