nuclease

[noo´kle-ās]

any of a group of enzymes that split nucleic acids into nucleotides and other products.

nu·cle·ase

(nū'klē-ās),

General term for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of nucleic acid into nucleotides or oligonucleotides by cleaving phosphodiester linkages. For nucleases not listed here, see the specific term. Compare: exonuclease, endonuclease.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

nuclease

(no͞o′klē-ās′, -āz′, nyo͞o′-)

Any of several enzymes, including the endonucleases and the exonucleases, that hydrolyze bonds between nucleotides in nucleic acids.

nuclease

An enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond of polynucleotide chains and phosphate-deoxyribose bonds within (endonuclease) or at the end (exonuclease) of a nucleotide sequence (nucleic acid). Nucleases are produced by most biologic systems and usually recognise a specific substrate, such as single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA.

nu·cle·ase

(nū'klē-ās)

General term for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of nucleic acid into nucleotides or oligonucleotides.
Compare: exonuclease, endonuclease

nuclease

Any one of several enzymes that break down NUCLEIC ACIDS.

nuclease

any enzyme that promotes hydrolysis of NUCLEIC ACIDS. For example, DNase, which catalyses the breakdown of DNA into individual DNA NUCLEOTIDES. The enzyme cleaves PHOSPHODIESTER BONDS of the nucleic acid. See ENDONUCLEASE, EXONUCLEASE.