What Role Does Lysozyme Play When Isolating DNA from Bacterial

Question

What role does lysozyme play when isolating DNA from bacterial cells?
A) It degrades the lipids in the cell membranes.
B) It breaks down the peptidoglycan cell wall.
C) It hydrolyzes cytoplasmic proteins.
D) It prevents DNA degradation after elution from DNA-binding columns.
E) It degrades contaminating RNA.

Accepted Answer

Lysozyme breaks down the peptidoglycan cell wall of bacterial cells, which aids in the isolation of DNA by creating holes in the cell wall for other enzymes, such as lysis buffer, to penetrate.

Answer: D 
 Lysozyme does not prevent DNA degradation after elution from DNA-binding columns. This is typically achieved through the use of DNA stabilizing reagents, such as ethanol or EDTA.

Therefore, the best answer is B.