Nuclease

In <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a>, a nuclease (also archaically known as nucleodepolymerase or polynucleotidase) is an <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzyme</a> capable of cleaving the <a href="/facts/Phosphodiester_bond/fCjTAnxa">phosphodiester bonds</a> that link <a href="/facts/Nucleotide/pQKEwlJI">nucleotides</a> together to form <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acid/2tTgcI0v">nucleic acids</a>. Nucleases variously affect <a href="/facts/Nick_(DNA)/HFCDNxtv">single</a> and <a href="/facts/Double-strand_break/hsURuYYq">double</a> stranded breaks in their target molecules. In living organisms, they are essential machinery for many aspects of <a href="/facts/DNA_repair/hsURuYYq">DNA repair</a>. Defects in certain nucleases can cause <a href="/facts/Genetic_instability/EMXlhNWn">genetic instability</a> or <a href="/facts/Immunodeficiency/CIEujXmc">immunodeficiency</a>. Nucleases are also extensively used in <a href="/facts/Molecular_cloning/Te56373e">molecular cloning</a>.
There are two primary classifications based on the locus of activity. <a href="/facts/Exonuclease/5RezcQvD">Exonucleases</a> digest nucleic acids from the ends. <a href="/facts/Endonuclease/t9Y0d883">Endonucleases</a> act on regions in the middle of target molecules. They are further subcategorized as <a href="/facts/Deoxyribonuclease/pUMlmkQv">deoxyribonucleases</a> and <a href="/facts/Ribonuclease/Fod4qUu5">ribonucleases</a>. The former acts on <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a>, the latter on <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a>.

Nuclease open-in-new

Nuclease