Running Plasmid DNA on Agarose Gel (Banding Pattern) - (Sep/18/2013 )

Good Morning,

I had a quick question about running plasmid DNA out on an agarose gel.  If you run uncut plasmid DNA, you should get two bands to three bands representing supercoiled, open circular etc. 

I read that If you cut plasmid DNA with a restriction enzyme you should get one single band.  But, what if that restriction enzyme cuts at more than just one recognition site?  Can you possibly have several bands of different sizes, not just the one linearized band?

-C 

yes. that's why you try to find a restriction enzyme that will cut only once (and not in the middle of your sequence of interest) if you want to linearize your plasmid.