Molecular processes depend upon sequencespecific interaction

Molecular processes depend upon sequence-specific interactions of proteins with DNA. Recognition sequences can be 4, 5, 6, 7, or even 8 base pairs in length for a single protein. What might be the advantages of a short recognition sequence? What might be the advantage of a longer recognition sequence? Molecular processes depend upon sequence-specific interactions of proteins with DNA. Recognition sequences can be 4, 5, 6, 7, or even 8 base pairs in length for a single protein. What might be the advantages of a short recognition sequence? What might be the advantage of a longer recognition sequence?

Solution

The advantage of short recognition sequence is that the DNA binding protein is intact and is spead within a short chain keeping the extentof bonding extremely strong.Moreover the length of the recognition sequence tells us how frequently the enzyme will be able to cut in a random sequence of DNA.In short ones it will cut very rarely.

On the other hand in the long recognition sequence the bonding is not strong and is spread but the DNA binding protein is also spread and the enzypewill cut DNA at many places.This means it allows longer chains.

example : 6\'-(G/T)GGGCGG(G/A)(G/A)(C/T)-4\', in this(G/T) indicates that the domain that is used to bind a guanine or thymine at the position mentioned.