Laboratory of Prokaryote Genetic Engineering

Head of the Laboratory: at interim dr. Kornelijus Stankevičius

Taking into consideration the subunit composition, demands of the co-factors and several other characters RM systems are subdivided into three groups. Despite the above mentioned fact, there are two enzyme activities characteristic to all RM systems without exceptions. One of them, DNA methyltranspherasic, transmits methyl group from S adenozilmetionin on one of the adenines or cytosines located in the target, creating protection in this way. The workers of the laboratory investigate various aspects of restriction-modification (RM) phenomena. Restriction-modification systems protect the cells of the host from the entrance of borrowed DNA into the genomic DNA of the host from other enzyme activity – restriction endonuclease – the implemented splitting of double-chained DNA. Both activities of the same RM system recognize the same sequence of 4-8 nt length. We are currently investigating regulations mechanisms of RM systems; organization of extraordinary RM systems; II type bio-functional restriction endonucleases; IIT type restriction endonucleases.