Question

Phosphatases refer to __________

(a) the enzymes which add phosphate group at the end of the DNA molecule in the place of hydroxyl group

(b) the enzymes which hydrolytically remove phosphate group from the DNA molecules and replace them with hydroxyl group

(c) the enzymes responsible for removal of phosphate group from the DNA molecules and replace them with hydrogen

(d) the enzymes responsible for replacing hydrogen in the DNA molecules with the phosphate group

This question was posed to me in final exam.

The query is from Restriction Endonuclease & Phosphatases topic in chapter Basics of Genetic Engineering of Genetic Engineering

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) the enzymes which hydrolytically remove phosphate group from the DNA molecules and replace them with hydroxyl group

To elaborate: Phosphatases are the enzymes which remove phosphate group and then replace them with the hydroxyl group. Kinases are the enzymes which are responsible for the addition of the phosphate group in place of hydroxyl group.