Restriction enzyme discovery

Restriction enzymes revolutionized biotechnology and remain essential tools for research. Known families of restriction enzymes are richly diverse and allow for many applications due to differences in the DNA substrates they favor (based on sequence preference and nucleic acid modification status), their mechanism of action, and the products they generate.

We are using bioinformatic analysis of sequence databases and metagenomic data alongside structural predictions to identify and characterize new restriction enzymes. This includes new functional homologues of Type II enzymes and the Type IV modification-dependent enzymes such as the GmrSD family.