Restriction enzymes catalyze anabolic reactions whereas ligase catalyzes catabolic reactions

Answer 1

Hello, Kacey!

I'm not sure what the question is, but this sounds like a True/False question, and the statement is false.

To understand the question, you first have to recall the definitions of catabolic and anabolic reactions. Catabolic reactions are when a substance is broken down into smaller units. Anabolic reactions are taking smaller substances and building to make a larger molecule. (HINT: Anabolic steroids help build bigger muscle, so anabolic reactions build bigger molecules.)

Next, we have to know the functions of restriction enzymes and ligase. Restriction enzymes are used in genetic engineering to "snip" out a gene at a specific nucleotide sequence. Since the restriction enzyme is cutting at specific nucleotide sequences, this will create many sections of DNA. This would be considered catabolic because it's breaking the DNA into smaller sections.

Ligase, if we recall from DNA replication, is for linking DNA segments together. (HINT: Remember that the "L" in "Ligase" is "L" for "Linking".) Since ligase is combining smaller DNA fragments together to create a larger one (in other words, building), this would be considered anabolic.

I hope this helps!