An enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the intemucleotide linkages of a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA or RNA). Nucleases tend to degrade (i.e., hydrolyze, cleave) artificially inserted DNA strands, making genetic targeting more difficult.
An enzyme which breaks down nucleic acids.
An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of nucleic acids by cleaving the bonds between adjacent nucleotides. Examples are ribonuclease, which acts on RNA, and deoxyribonuclease, which acts on DNA.
A class of enzymes used to split deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules.
Any enzyme in animals or plants that facilitates hydrolysis of nucleic and nucleic acids.