Definition
noun, plural: restriction sites
The site in a polynucleotide chain as to where the restriction enzyme cleaves nucleotides by hydrolyzing the phosphodiester bond between them.
Supplement
The restriction enzyme recognizes the site as to where it cuts via a specific sequence of nucleotides along the polynucleotide chain. For example, when the restriction enzyme, Eco RI, recognizes the palindromic sequence GAATTC, it cuts between G and A on the top and bottom strands.
Synonyms:
- restriction site
- restriction recognition site
See also: restriction enzyme
