Final answer:
To inactivate the BamHI restriction enzyme, a phenol-chloroform extraction followed by ethanol precipitation is typically used to remove the enzyme, or alternatively, heat inactivation can be performed.
Step-by-step explanation:
To inactivate the BamHI restriction enzyme, a common method used is to perform a phenol-chloroform extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. This involves first adding a mixture of phenol and chloroform to the reaction that contains the BamHI restriction enzyme, vortexing, then spinning the mixture in a microcentrifuge to separate the organic and aqueous phases. The organic phase, which contains the restriction enzyme, is discarded, and the DNA is precipitated from the aqueous phase using isopropanol or ethanol and sodium acetate, and then collected by centrifugation. Another approach to inactivate BamHI and other restriction enzymes is to use heat inactivation, by incubating the reaction at a high temperature, typically 65°C or above, for a period (often 20 minutes), which denatures the enzyme and stops its activity.
By removing or denaturing the restriction enzyme, you ensure that it does not interfere with subsequent steps in your experimental protocol, such as ligation, where you might be joining DNA fragments cut by BamHI with a DNA ligase.