Assuming that the double stranded DNA template for digestion has a GC content of 50%, what is the average distance between restriction sites for a restriction endonuclease with a recognition motif of ACGT

Answer and Explanation:

The average distance between restriction sites refers to how frequently the restriction endonuclease with the recognition sequence ACGT might cut the double-stranded DNA.

We know that the frequency of cutting in a determined DNA sequence is (1/4)ⁿ, n being the number of bases in the recognition sequence, and 4 being the number of possible nucleotides.

So, in the present example, the restriction endonuclease recognizes the sequence ACGT, formed by 4 bases. This is, n=4.

The frequency of the ACGT sequence is (1/4)⁴= 1/256. The enzyme cuts every 256 bases. The average distance between restriction sites 0.25 kb.

Note: This is for only one of the strands of DNA.    

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