endonuclease

noun

en·​do·​nu·​cle·​ase ˌen-dō-ˈnü-klē-ˌās 

-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

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for endonuclease

• altarpiece
• centerpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• pilates
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice

Medical Definition

endonuclease

noun

en·​do·​nu·​cle·​ase -ˈn(y)ü-klē-ˌās, -ˌāz 

: 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