Endonuclease
Endonuclease
Endonuclease (/ɛnˌdoʊˈnjuːklɪˌeɪz/, from the Greek endon, meaning "within", and nuclease, a type of enzyme that cleaves nucleic acids) is a type of enzyme that is capable of cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids.
Etymology
The term "endonuclease" is derived from the Greek words endon, meaning "within", and nuclease, a term that refers to enzymes that cleave nucleic acids. The prefix endo- signifies that these enzymes cut nucleic acids at positions within the molecule, as opposed to exonucleases, which cut from the ends of the nucleic acid molecule.
Function
Endonucleases play a crucial role in the maintenance and manipulation of DNA. They are involved in processes such as DNA repair, recombination, and replication. They are also used in molecular biology for DNA manipulation, for instance, in restriction digestion where they are known as restriction endonucleases.
Types
There are several types of endonucleases, including restriction endonucleases, which recognize specific sequences of DNA and cut at those sites, and flap endonucleases, which are involved in DNA replication and repair.
Related Terms
- Exonuclease: An enzyme that cleaves nucleotides sequentially from the end of a polynucleotide chain.
- Nuclease: A type of enzyme that cleaves the phosphodiester bonds that link the nucleotides in nucleic acids.
- Restriction endonuclease: A type of endonuclease that recognizes specific sequences in DNA and makes a cut at those sites.
- Flap endonuclease: A type of endonuclease involved in DNA replication and repair.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Endonuclease
- Wikipedia's article - Endonuclease
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