| site-specific DNA-methyltransferase (adenine-specific) | <enzyme> An enzyme responsible for producing a species-characteristic methylation pattern on adenine residues in a specific short base sequence in the host cell DNA. The enzyme catalyses the methylation of DNA adenine in the presence of s-adenosyl-l-methionine to form DNA containing 6-methylaminopurine and s-adenosyl-l-homocysteine. Registry number: EC 2.1.1.72 (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| site-specific DNA methyltransferase (cytosine-specific) | <enzyme> An enzyme responsible for producing a species-characteristic methylation pattern on cytosine residues in a specific short base sequence in the host cell's DNA. The enzyme catalyses the methylation of DNA cytosine in the presence of s-adenosyl-l-methionine to form s-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and DNA containing 5-methylcytosine. Registry number: EC 2.1.1.73 (12 Dec 1998) |
| spacer DNA | <molecular biology> The DNA sequence between genes. In bacteria, only a few nucleotides long. In eukaryotes, can be extensive and include repetitive DNA, comprising the majority of the DNA of the genome. The term is used particularly for the spacer DNA between the many tandemly repeated copies of the ribosomal RNA genes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| sticky-ended DNA | Double-stranded DNA in which one of the strands protrudes from the other strand (i.e., has a number of unpaired bases) at one end or more. (05 Mar 2000) |
| noncoding DNA | <molecular biology> DNA that does not code for part of a polypeptide chain or RNA.This includes introns and pseudo genes. In eukaryotes the majority of the DNA is noncoding. Noncoding strand refers to the so called nonsense strand, as opposed to the sense strand which is actually translated into mRNA. (18 Nov 1997) |
| nucleoskeletal DNA | <molecular biology> DNA that is proposed to exist mostly to maintain nuclear volume and not for coding protein. (18 Nov 1997) |
| superhelical DNA endonuclease | <enzyme> Produces single nicks in superhelical DNA; co-purifies with calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase Registry number: EC 3.1.21.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| Deep Vent DNA polymerase | <enzyme> A thermostable DNA polymerase with putative proofreading activity Registry number: EC 2.7.7.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| denaturation temperature of DNA | That temperature at which, under a given set of conditions, double-stranded DNA is changed (50%) to single-stranded DNA; under standard conditions, the base composition of the DNA can be estimated from the denaturation temperature, since the greater the denaturation temperature, the greater the guanine-plus-cytosine content (i.e., GC content) of the DNA. Synonym: melting temperature of DNA. (05 Mar 2000) |
| DNA | <cell biology, molecular biology> Deoxyribonucleic acid. The molecule that encodes genetic information in the nucleus of cells. It determines the structure, function and behaviour of the cell. DNA is a double-stranded molecule held together by weak bonds between base pairs of nucleotides. The four nucleotides in DNA contain the bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In nature, base pairs form only between A and T and between G and C, thus the base sequence of each single strand can be deduced from that of its partner. (10 Nov 1998) |
| DNA-activated protein kinase | <enzyme> Nuclear serine-threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates DNA-binding proteins; may function in cell homeostasis Registry number: EC 2.7.10.- Synonym: DNA-pk, DNA-dependent protein serine-threonine kinase, DNA-dependent protein kinase, scid gene product, xrcc7 gene product (26 Jun 1999) |
| DNA adducts | Covalent adducts between chemical mutagens and DNA. Such couplings activate DNA repair processes and, unless repaired prior to DNA replication, may lead to nucleotide substitutions, deletions, and chromosome rearrangements. (rieger et al., glossary of genetics: classical and molecular, 5th ed) (12 Dec 1998) |
| DNA alkyltransferase | <enzyme> Involved in DNA repair by conversion of o(6)-alkylguanine and o(4)-alkylthymine to the normal bases; see also EC 2.1.1.63, o(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase Registry number: EC 2.5.1.- Synonym: alkylated DNA alkyltransferase (26 Jun 1999) |
| DNA amplification | <molecular biology> The use of enzymes in making millions or billions of copies of a single DNA sequence (see PCR). (14 Nov 1997) |
| DNA annealing | <molecular biology> The reformation of double stranded DNA from thermally denatured DNA. The rate of reassociation depends upon the degree of repetition and is slowest for unique sequences (this is the basis of the Cot value). (18 Nov 1997) |