nuclease

[ noo-klee-eys, -eyz, nyoo- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of nucleic acids.

nuclease

/ ˈnjuːklɪˌeɪz /

noun

1. any of a group of enzymes that hydrolyse nucleic acids to simple nucleotides

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclease¹

1900–05; nucle(ic acid) ( def ) + -ase

Example Sentences

In addition to further testing the Subak reporter for nuclease digestion, the team also wants to investigate whether it can be a probe for other biological targets.

From Science Daily

In contrast to gene scissors, however, the CRISPRi nuclease only binds to the DNA without cutting it.

From Science Daily

"We now want to address this huge, fundamental biological question -- how does complex assembly switch SIR2's activity from a nuclease to an NADase?"

From Science Daily

But soon after fertilization, the nuclease cuts the DNA sequence on the other chromosome from the parent that did not carry the gene at the precise location of the gene drive.

From Scientific American

It took Dr. Bao’s lab more than two years of development, and then zinc finger nuclease would successfully cut the sickle cell sequence only around 10 percent of the time.

From New York Times