Bacterial cells protect their own DNA from degradation by restriction endonucleases by

Bacterial cells protect their own DNA from degradation by restriction endonucleases through a mechanism called DNA methylation.

Here's how it works:

1. Restriction-modification systems: Bacterial cells have restriction-modification (R-M) systems, which consist of two types of enzymes: restriction endonucleases and DNA methyltransferases.

2. Restriction endonucleases: These enzymes recognize specific DNA sequences (typically 4 to 8 base pairs long) and cleave the DNA at these sequences, effectively cutting the DNA.

3. DNA methyltransferases: These enzymes modify the bacterial DNA by adding a methyl group to specific bases in the DNA sequence that are targeted by the restriction endonucleases.

4. Protection from degradation: By methylating their own DNA, bacterial cells protect their genetic material from being recognized and cleaved by their own restriction endonucleases. The restriction endonucleases only cut unmethylated DNA, which typically includes foreign DNA such as viral DNA.

5. Foreign DNA degradation: When foreign DNA (such as bacteriophage DNA) enters the bacterial cell, it is often not methylated at the same sites as the bacterial DNA. This makes the foreign DNA susceptible to degradation by the restriction endonucleases.

By using this restriction-modification system, bacteria can protect their own DNA while targeting and degrading foreign DNA. This system provides a defense mechanism against viral infections and other foreign genetic material.

Bacterial cells protect their own DNA from degradation by restriction endonucleases through a mechanism called DNA methylation.

Here's how it works:

1. Restriction-modification systems: Bacterial cells have restriction-modification (R-M) systems, which consist of two types of enzymes: restriction endonucleases and DNA methyltransferases.

2. Restriction endonucleases: These enzymes recognize specific DNA sequences (typically 4 to 8 base pairs long) and cleave the DNA at these sequences, effectively cutting the DNA.

3. DNA methyltransferases: These enzymes modify the bacterial DNA by adding a methyl group to specific bases in the DNA sequence that are targeted by the restriction endonucleases.

4. Protection from degradation: By methylating their own DNA, bacterial cells protect their genetic material from being recognized and cleaved by their own restriction endonucleases. The restriction endonucleases only cut unmethylated DNA, which typically includes foreign DNA such as viral DNA.

5. Foreign DNA degradation: When foreign DNA (such as bacteriophage DNA) enters the bacterial cell, it is often not methylated at the same sites as the bacterial DNA. This makes the foreign DNA susceptible to degradation by the restriction endonucleases.

By using this restriction-modification system, bacteria can protect their own DNA while targeting and degrading foreign DNA. This system provides a defense mechanism against viral infections and other foreign genetic material.