How Do You Spell NUCLEASE?

1. A nuclease refers to an enzyme that is responsible for catalyzing the breakdown or modification of nucleic acids. It possesses the ability to cleave the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides within a nucleic acid molecule. Nucleic acids can be present in the form of DNA or RNA, and nuclease activity is essential for various biological processes, including DNA replication, repair, recombination, transcription, and RNA processing.

   Nucleases are categorized into two major types: endonucleases and exonucleases. Endonucleases cleave or hydrolyze the phosphodiester bonds within the internal regions of a nucleic acid molecule, resulting in the formation of smaller fragments. Exonucleases, on the other hand, cleave or remove nucleotides successively from either the 3' or 5' end of a nucleic acid molecule.

   Nucleases can have specificity for different nucleic acid substrates, such as DNA-specific nucleases or RNA-specific nucleases. Additionally, nuclease activity can also be influenced by various factors, including pH, temperature, and divalent metal ion cofactors.

   These enzymes play a crucial role in the regulation and manipulation of genetic information within cells. They are extensively utilized in molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, such as DNA sequencing, cloning, fragmentation, and manipulation. Understanding the mechanisms and functions of nucleases contributes to advancements in fields like medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.

2. An enzyme which decomposes nucleic acid.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for NUCLEASE

The word "nuclease" is derived from the combination of two Latin roots: "nuc-" and "-lease".

1. "Nuc-" is a reference to the Latin word "nucleus", meaning "kernel" or "seed". In the context of biology, "nucleus" refers to the central part of a cell that contains genetic material.

2. "-Lease" is derived from the Latin "levis", meaning "light" or "easy to remove". In biology, the suffix "-lease" is used to indicate an enzyme or protein that breaks apart or cleaves a specific substrate.

Therefore, combining the two Latin roots, "nuc-" and "-lease", gives rise to "nuclease", which refers to an enzyme that cleaves nucleic acids, particularly DNA or RNA, by breaking the phosphodiester bonds that hold the nucleotides together.

Similar spelling words for NUCLEASE

Plural form of NUCLEASE is NUCLEASES