Enzymes that are part of the restriction-modification systems. They catalyze the endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA sequences which lack the species-specific methylation pattern in the host cell's DNA. Cleavage yields random or specific double-stranded fragments with terminal 5'-phosphates. The function of restriction enzymes is to destroy any foreign DNA that invades the host cell. Most have been studied in bacterial systems, but a few have been found in eukaryotic organisms. They are also used as tools for the systematic dissection and mapping of chromosomes, in the determination of base sequences of DNAs, and have made it possible to splice and recombine genes from one organism into the genome of another. EC 3.21.1.

Descriptor ID	D004262
MeSH Number(s)	D08.811.150.280 D08.811.277.352.335.350.300 D08.811.277.352.355.325.300
Concept/Terms	DNA Restriction Enzymes DNA Restriction Enzymes Enzymes, DNA Restriction Restriction Enzymes, DNA Restriction Endonucleases Endonucleases, Restriction Restriction Endonuclease Endonuclease, Restriction DNA Restriction Enzyme Restriction Enzyme, DNA

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "DNA Restriction Enzymes".

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Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "DNA Restriction Enzymes".