Which enzyme will you use to extract DNA from a bacte- rial cell?

Options

A. Lysozyme
B. Amylase
C. Cellulose
D. Chitinase

Answer

To extract DNA from a bacterial cell, the enzyme that is primarily used is lysozyme. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of why lysozyme is the correct choice:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Structure of Bacterial Cells**:
- Bacterial cells have a rigid cell wall made primarily of peptidoglycan, which provides structural integrity.

2. **Role of Lysozyme**:
- Lysozyme is an enzyme that specifically targets and hydrolyzes the peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. This action leads to the lysis (breaking open) of the bacterial cell.

3. **Process of DNA Extraction**:
- Once the bacterial cell wall is lysed by lysozyme, the contents of the cell, including the DNA, are released into the solution.

4. **Comparison with Other Enzymes**:
- **Amylase**: This enzyme breaks down starches and is not suitable for lysing bacterial cells.
- **Cellulase**: This enzyme breaks down cellulose, which is not present in bacterial cell walls.
- **Chitinase**: This enzyme breaks down chitin, which is found in the cell walls of fungi, not bacteria.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the correct enzyme to use for extracting DNA from a bacterial cell is **lysozyme**.