What is the Origin of XbaI?

The discovery of XbaI is part of the broader history of restriction enzyme technology, which provided the essential tools for genetic engineering and analysis. Its systematic name indicates the bacterial source (Xanthomonas badrii) and that it was the first enzyme identified from that particular strain.

What is the Mechanism of XbaI?

The XbaI enzyme recognizes and cleaves the specific six-base pair palindromic DNA sequence 5'-TCTAGA-3', producing fragments with single-stranded overhangs, known as sticky ends. Clinically, a polymorphism that alters this XbaI recognition site within a gene, such as the estrogen receptor alpha gene, can be detected by observing the resulting pattern of DNA fragment sizes following electrophoresis. This genetic variant is then correlated with potential differences in individual hormone responsiveness or disease susceptibility.

XbaI ∞ Area

XbaI

Meaning

XbaI is the specific designation for a Type II restriction endonuclease enzyme, which is a molecular tool isolated from the bacterium Xanthomonas badrii. In the field of molecular diagnostics for hormonal health, this enzyme is used to cleave DNA at a precise recognition sequence, allowing for the identification of genetic polymorphisms, specifically restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), often within hormone-related genes.