EXONUCLEASE Meaning and
Definition
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An exonuclease is an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of nucleotides sequentially from the end of a DNA or RNA molecule. It acts specifically on the terminal nucleotide of the strand, breaking the phosphodiester bond and releasing the free nucleotide. This process occurs in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that the enzyme hydrolyzes the nucleotides from the 5' end of the strand.
Exonucleases play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination. During DNA replication, these enzymes are involved in proofreading, detecting and removing any incorrect nucleotides that may have been incorporated during synthesis. By removing the incorrect nucleotides, exonucleases ensure the fidelity and accuracy of DNA replication, preventing the accumulation of mutations.
Furthermore, exonucleases are also involved in DNA repair mechanisms, specifically in the removal of damaged or mismatched nucleotides during the repair process. They can recognize and excise damaged bases caused by environmental factors or chemical alterations, allowing for the replacement of the damaged DNA with the correct nucleotides.
Exonucleases can be classified based on their specificities, such as 3' to 5' or 5' to 3' exonucleases, depending on the directionality in which they degrade the nucleotides. Additionally, some exonucleases possess specialized functions, such as proofreading exonucleases, which are particularly efficient in correcting DNA synthesis errors.
In summary, an exonuclease is an enzyme that facilitates the stepwise removal of nucleotides from the ends of DNA or RNA molecules, ensuring accuracy during replication and repair processes.
Common Misspellings for EXONUCLEASE
- wxonuclease
- sxonuclease
- dxonuclease
- rxonuclease
- 4xonuclease
- 3xonuclease
- ezonuclease
- econuclease
- esonuclease
- exinuclease
- exknuclease
- exlnuclease
- expnuclease
- ex0nuclease
- ex9nuclease
- exobuclease
- exomuclease
- exojuclease
- exohuclease
Etymology of EXONUCLEASE
The word "exonuclease" is derived from the combination of two parts: "exo-" and "-nuclease".
The prefix "exo-" comes from the Greek word "exos", meaning "outside" or "external". In the context of biology, "exo-" refers to an enzyme that removes nucleotides from the ends of a DNA or RNA strand.
The term "nuclease" is derived from the Latin word "nucleus", meaning "kernel" or "seed". In molecular biology, "nuclease" refers to an enzyme that breaks down nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA by hydrolyzing the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.
Therefore, when combined, "exonuclease" describes an enzyme that cleaves nucleotides starting from the exterior or end of a DNA or RNA molecule.
Similar spelling words for EXONUCLEASE
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