Final answer:
When integrase cuts the target DNA, it produces 'staggered ends' or 'sticky ends' that can base pair with each other or with complementary sticky ends of other DNA fragments.
Step-by-step explanation:
When integrase cuts the target DNA, it produces 'staggered ends' or 'sticky ends', which are unpaired nucleotides at each resulting end of the DNA. These ends can base pair with each other or with complementary sticky ends of other DNA fragments.
Integrase typically produces staggered or sticky ends when cutting the target DNA for provirus integration. These sticky ends facilitate the integration process. In contrast, enzymes like HaeIII create blunt ends, which do not have unpaired bases and do not facilitate base pairing.
When integrase cuts the target DNA to integrate a provirus, it produces staggered ends, also known as sticky ends. These ends have a few unpaired nucleotides that can base pair with complementary sequences. The action of integrase resembles that of certain restriction enzymes, like EcoRI, which cut DNA and leave staggered ends, allowing for base pairing with complementary sticky ends of other DNA fragments. In contrast, enzymes like HaeIII produce blunt ends, where the DNA is cut straight across both strands, leaving no unpaired bases.
In the process of DNA transposition facilitated by transposase, staggered cuts with sticky ends are typically produced. These sticky ends facilitate the integration of the transposon into a new location within the genome. After integration, the DNA gaps at the insertion site are filled in, and ligation seals the transposon, resulting in direct repeats of host cell genomic DNA around the insertion site.