bio question?

Question

Why must you use an enzyme that will not cut anywhere within the gene that you are inserting into a plasmid?

Answer 1

If the enzyme cuts into the gene at all, then the gene won't be able to be expressed; Only a fraction of it will be inserted into the plasmid, which means that when it is picked up by the bacteria, the bacteria won't be able to do anything with it.

So let's say that scientists want a protein to be formed by bacteria, and they take the gene that codes for the protein and stick it in a plasmid for the bacteria to pick up. They hope the bacteria will then produce the protein for them.

If you take ALL the DNA needed and stick it in the plasmid, the gene will code for a complete polypeptide chain, which will fold into a complete protein.

If you don't take all the DNA needed, the chain will be smaller, and the shape of the final protein could be drastically different; meaning that the protein could be inactive, and completely worthless.

This help?