nuclease

(noun)

Any of several enzymes capable of cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids.

Related Terms

Examples of nuclease in the following topics:

  • Antisense Agents

    • This DNA-RNA coupling attracts an endogenous nuclease, RNase H that destroys the bound RNA and frees the DNA antisense to rehybridize with another copy of mRNA.

  • Medical Importance of Viruses

    • RNA viruses in particular must coordinate the switch between plus and minus strand synthesis and between replication and transcription while protecting their genomes from cellular nucleases.

  • Applications of Genetic Engineering

    • Genes may be removed, or "knocked out" , using a nuclease.

  • Unsticking Stuck Ribosomes

    • Nonstop mediated decay mediates this problem by both freeing the stalled ribosomes and marking the nonstop mRNA for degradation in the cell by nucleases.

  • Bacterial Transformation

    • Only single-stranded DNA may pass through, one strand is therefore degraded by nucleases in the process, and the translocated single-stranded DNA may then be integrated into the bacterial chromosomes by a RecA-dependent process.

  • Group Translocation

    • The GlyGly-CTERM/rhombosortase system, found in the Shewanella, Vibrio, and a few other genera, seems involved in the release of proteases, nucleases, and other enzymes.

  • Genetically Engineered Vaccines

    • Genes may be removed, or "knocked out," using a nuclease.

  • Generalized Recombination and RecA

    • The RecB subunit also has a nuclease domain, which cuts the single strand of DNA that emerges from the unzipping process.