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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Single-Molecule Dwell-Time Analysis of Restriction Endonuclease-Mediated DNA Cleavage
Published on: February 7, 2021
Activation of restriction enzyme by electrochemically released magnesium ion
Shinji Katsura1, Noriaki Harada, Yukihiro Maeda
1Department of Ecological Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan. katsura@eco.tut.ac.jp
Abstract:
Observation and cutting of DNA molecules at intended positions permit several new experimental methods that are completely different from conventional molecular biology methods; therefore several cutting methods have been proposed and studied. In this paper, a new cutting method for a DNA molecule by localizing the activity of a restriction enzyme is presented. Since most restriction enzymes require magnesium ions for their activation, local restriction enzyme activity can be controlled by the local concentration of magnesium ions. Applying a direct current (dc) voltage to a needle electrode of metallic magnesium made it possible to control the local magnesium ion concentration at the tip of the needle. The restriction enzyme was activated only when magnesium ions were electrochemically supplied.
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