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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a common reaction mechanism used by bacteria to protect against invading DNA?
A
Friedel-Crafts acylation
B
Diels-Alder reaction
C
Hydroboration-oxidation
D
Restriction-modification systems
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: Bacteria have evolved mechanisms to protect themselves from foreign DNA, such as that from viruses or other organisms. These mechanisms are crucial for their survival.
Identify the common mechanisms: Bacteria often use restriction-modification systems to protect against invading DNA. This involves two key components: restriction enzymes and modification enzymes.
Explore restriction enzymes: These enzymes recognize specific DNA sequences and cut the DNA at or near these sites. This prevents the foreign DNA from integrating into the bacterial genome.
Explore modification enzymes: These enzymes modify the bacterial DNA at the same recognition sites, usually by methylation, to protect it from being cut by its own restriction enzymes.
Compare with other reactions: The other reactions listed (Friedel-Crafts acylation, Diels-Alder reaction, Hydroboration-oxidation) are organic chemistry reactions used in synthetic chemistry and are not related to bacterial DNA protection mechanisms.