Sticky ends

Sticky ends
Digestions of double-stranded DNA by many restriction enzymes (e.g. EcoR I) generate ends with a short single-stranded sequences. Such ends are called sticky ends.
Related ...

Sticky Ends
Fragments of DNA that has been cut with restriction enzymes have unpaired nucleotides at the ends called sticky ends. All of the fragments will have the same sticky ends.

sticky ends Term applied to DNA sequences cut with restriction enzymes where the cuts will bond with each other or with another sequence cut with the same enzyme.

Sticky ends: After digestion of a DNA with certain restriction enzymes, the ends left have one strand overhanging the other to form a short (typically 4 nt) single-stranded segment.

These are called "sticky ends" because they are able to form base pairs with any DNA molecule that contains the complementary sticky end. Any other source of DNA treated with the same enzyme will produce such molecules.

DNA insert and vector molecules are digested with two different restriction enzymes to create noncomplementary sticky ends at either end of each restriction fragment.

The DNA passes through a separate sugar transport protein (ptsG) in the inner membrane, and immediately circularises using the cos sites, 12-base G-C rich cohesive "sticky ends". The single-stranded nicks are ligated by host DNA ligase.

This produces either "sticky ends" or "blunt ends"
DNA ligase can be used to re-join the ends ...

DNA ligase - enzyme that cuts DNA, creating sticky ends.
C.
DNA polymerase - copies DNA sequences in the polymerase chain reaction.

Most enzymes make slightly staggered incisions, resulting in "sticky ends", out of which one strand protrudes. There are three known evolutionary lineages of restriction enzyme, which each cleave DNA by a different mechanism.

Linker
A synthetic, double-stranded oligonucleotide used to attach sticky ends to a blunt-ended molecule.

palindromic sequence (recognition sequence) within a double-stranded DNA molecule and then catalyzes the cleavage of both strands at that site. Also called a restriction enzyme. Restriction endonucleases may generate either blunt or sticky ends at ...

Some restriction enzymes generate blunt ends, cutting across both strands of DNA. Others generate a staggered cut, producing "sticky ends.

See also: Sticky end, DNA, Enzyme, Strand, Sequence