What is the Origin of PvuII?

Restriction enzymes were a seminal discovery in molecular biology, providing the means to precisely cut DNA. The systematic nomenclature, PvuII, indicates the source organism (Proteus vulgaris) and that it was the second enzyme isolated from that strain. Its application in genetic testing became widespread with the advent of molecular diagnostics.

What is the Mechanism of PvuII?

The PvuII enzyme recognizes and cleaves the specific six-base pair palindromic sequence 5'-CAGCTG-3', generating blunt-ended DNA fragments. Clinically, a natural genetic variation (polymorphism) that either creates or abolishes this specific PvuII recognition site within or near a gene of interest, such as the estrogen receptor gene, can be detected. The resulting difference in DNA fragment lengths is analyzed to correlate the genetic variant with observed differences in hormone sensitivity or disease risk.

PvuII ∞ Area

PvuII

Meaning

PvuII is the designation for a specific Type II restriction endonuclease enzyme, which is a molecular tool derived from the bacterium Proteus vulgaris. In the context of molecular diagnostics for hormonal health, this enzyme is used to cleave DNA at a specific recognition sequence, enabling the identification of genetic polymorphisms, such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), associated with hormone receptor genes.