EXONUCLEASE LAMBDA Meaning and
Definition
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Exonuclease lambda is a specific type of enzyme that belongs to the exonuclease family. Exonucleases are enzymes involved in DNA degradation and repair processes. The lambda exonuclease, also known as exoλ, is named after the bacteriophage lambda from which it was originally isolated.
Exonuclease lambda acts by cleaving nucleotides from the ends of double-stranded DNA molecules in a highly processive manner. It recognizes the 5' ends of DNA and proceeds to hydrolyze the phosphodiester bonds, removing nucleotides one at a time. This enzymatic activity makes it a 5' to 3' exonuclease.
The primary function of exonuclease lambda is to eliminate single-stranded DNA overhangs that are generated during various DNA manipulation procedures, such as DNA cloning, PCR amplification, or enzymatic reactions. By trimming these single-stranded overhangs, exonuclease lambda ensures the generation of blunt-ended or recessed-ended DNA molecules that are essential for subsequent molecular biology applications.
Exonuclease lambda is widely used in molecular biology laboratories for DNA modification, preparation of DNA fragments, and in the construction of recombinant DNA molecules. It is often employed in conjunction with other enzymes, such as DNA polymerases and DNA ligases, to achieve specific DNA manipulations.
Overall, exonuclease lambda plays a critical role in DNA processing and manipulation, providing researchers with a versatile tool for various molecular biology techniques.
Common Misspellings for EXONUCLEASE LAMBDA
- wxonuclease lambda
- sxonuclease lambda
- dxonuclease lambda
- rxonuclease lambda
- 4xonuclease lambda
- 3xonuclease lambda
- ezonuclease lambda
- econuclease lambda
- edonuclease lambda
- esonuclease lambda
- exinuclease lambda
- exknuclease lambda
- exlnuclease lambda
- expnuclease lambda
- ex0nuclease lambda
- ex9nuclease lambda
- exobuclease lambda
- exomuclease lambda
- exojuclease lambda
- exohuclease lambda
Etymology of EXONUCLEASE LAMBDA
The word "exonuclease lambda" is a combination of two components: "exonuclease" and "lambda".
- "Exonuclease" is derived from the prefix "exo-" meaning "out of" or "outside" and the root "nuclease" referring to an enzymatic activity that breaks down nucleic acids. Therefore, "exonuclease" generally refers to an enzyme that degrades nucleic acids starting from the end or "outside" of the molecule.
- "Lambda" refers to the Greek letter λ, which can also represent the bacteriophage lambda. Bacteriophage lambda is a virus that infects bacteria and plays a significant role in molecular biology research.
So, "exonuclease lambda" signifies a specific type of exonuclease activity associated with the lambda bacteriophage.
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