Restriction Enzyme - Nomenclature

Nomenclature

Derivation of the EcoRI name
Abbreviation Meaning Description
E Escherichia genus
co coli species
R RY13 strain
I First identified order of identification
in the bacterium

Since their discovery in the 1970s, more than 100 different restriction enzymes have been identified in different bacteria. Each enzyme is named after the bacterium from which it was isolated using a naming system based on bacterial genus, species and strain. For example, the name of the EcoRI restriction enzyme was derived as shown in the box.

Read more about this topic:  Restriction Enzyme