endonuclease

noun

en·​do·​nu·​cle·​ase ˌen-dō-ˈnü-klē-ˌās How to pronounce endonuclease (audio)
-ˌāz,
-ˈnyü-
: an enzyme that breaks down a nucleotide chain into two or more shorter chains by cleaving the internal covalent bonds linking nucleotides compare exonuclease

Examples of endonuclease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One study shows that infected cells deficient in the endonuclease NSP15 displayed less viral shedding and replication. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 The other is an endonuclease, nonstructural protein 15 (NSP15). William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 Both circular strands of DNA are protected from endonucleases. Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 29 Aug. 2019 Xofluza interferes with a protein inside the flu virus called polymerase acidic endonuclease, which helps stop the virus from replicating, Dr. Adalja explains. Korin Miller, SELF, 26 Oct. 2018 Humans don’t make UV endonuclease, either; researchers found it in a bacterium called Micrococcus luteus. Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, 2 July 2018 Oftentimes those sequences were flanked by a set of genes coding for a class of strand-cutting enzymes called endonucleases. Megan Molteni, WIRED, 27 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'endonuclease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endonuclease was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near endonuclease

Cite this Entry

“Endonuclease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endonuclease. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

endonuclease

noun
en·​do·​nu·​cle·​ase -ˈn(y)ü-klē-ˌās, -ˌāz How to pronounce endonuclease (audio)
: an enzyme that breaks down a nucleotide chain into two or more shorter chains by cleaving the internal phosphodiester bonds see restriction endonuclease compare exonuclease

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