ribonuclease

Thân thiện

A scientist adds ribonuclease to a test tube containing a clear solution.

Definition

Noun: A type of enzyme (specifically, a transferase) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid (RNA). It breaks down RNA molecules by cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.

Usage

This is a specialized scientific term used primarily in biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. * Ribonuclease activity is crucial for regulating gene expression and RNA turnover within a cell. * Researchers added ribonuclease to the sample to degrade any contaminating RNA. * The stability of messenger RNA is controlled by cellular ribonucleases.

Advanced Usage

• Ribonuclease protection assay: A laboratory technique used to detect and quantify specific RNA molecules by using enzymes to digest unhybridized, single-stranded RNA.
• Pancreatic ribonuclease: A well-studied form of the enzyme, originally isolated from the pancreas of cows.

Variants and Related Words

• RNase: The common abbreviation for .
• Ribonucleic acid (RNA): The nucleic acid polymer that acts upon.
• Deoxyribonuclease (DNase): A related enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of DNA.
• Nuclease: The general term for enzymes that cleave nucleic acids (including both ribonucleases and deoxyribonucleases).

Synonyms

• RNase
• RNAase

Notes on Meaning

This term has a single, precise meaning in scientific contexts. It does not have common idiomatic or phrasal verb uses.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a transferase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ribonucleinase
• RNase