The Effect of Microplastics on Restriction Enzymes

Abstract

Microplastics—tiny plastic particles prevalent in everyday environments—have been associated with DNA damage and other adverse health and environmental impacts. This project aims to investigate whether microplastics affect the catalytic activity of restriction enzymes in cleaving plasmid DNA. To do this, a reaction mixture containing plasmid DNA, restriction enzymes, and microplastics will be prepared, and the resulting DNA fragments will be analyzed through gel electrophoresis.

If microplastics are found to alter enzyme function, the enzyme’s DNA-cutting activity may be inhibited, potentially leading to DNA damage. Such a result would suggest that microplastics could impair DNA integrity, with significant implications for cellular health. By elucidating the relationship between microplastics and DNA-processing enzymes, this project contributes to a broader understanding of the possible health risks posed by microplastic contamination.