EcoRI

EcoRI is a restriction endonuclease enzyme, which cuts through DNA at the palindromic sequence 5' GAATTC 3', and the opposite sequence on the other strand, 3' CTTAAG 5'. EcoRI 'cuts' through the sequence between the adenine bases on each strand, leaving sticky ends. EcoRI and other restriction endonucleases are often used to cut DNA at specific sequences, before the fragments are put through gel electrophoresis and arranged by size, known as restriction digests of DNA.