@article{Kang2025, 
author = {Haoyang Kang and Ang Gao and Yalan Zhu},
title = {Bacterial restriction-modification systems: mechanisms of defense against phage infection},
year = {2025},
journal = {Biophysics Reports},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {330-343},
keywords = {R-M system, Bacteriophage, DNA Restriction, DNA Modification, Anti-restriction},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.52601/bpr.2025.240070},
doi = {10.52601/bpr.2025.240070},
abstract = {Bacteria have evolved various defense mechanisms against bacteriophage invasion, driven by a long-term evolutionary arms race. Among them, restriction-modification (R-M) systems, which protect bacteria by DNA restriction and modification, are prominent. R-M systems are categorized based on their DNA methylation mechanisms, restriction activities, and cofactor dependencies. Here, we review the molecular basis of R-M systems and the diverse strategies used by bacteriophages to evade these defenses. Furthermore, we highlight the co-evolutionary dynamics between R-M systems and phage countermeasures, providing insights into new approaches to combat bacterial resistance and pathogenicity. Beyond their defensive roles, the multifunctionality of R-M systems in broader biological and biotechnological contexts is also discussed.}
}