What is "deoxyribonuclease"

n. (context enzyme genetics English) Any of several enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of DNA.

A deoxyribonuclease (DNase, for short) is any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester linkages in the DNA backbone, thus degrading DNA. Deoxyribonucleases are one type of nuclease, a generic term for enzymes capable of hydrolyzing phosphodiester bonds that link nucleotides. A wide variety of deoxyribonucleases are known, which differ in their substrate specificities, chemical mechanisms, and biological functions.

Deoxyribonuclease (pyrimidine dimer) (, endodeoxyribonuclease (pyrimidine dimer), bacteriophage T4 endodeoxyribonuclease V, T4 endonuclease V) is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction

Endonucleolytic cleavage near pyrimidine dimers to products with 5'- phosphate

This enzyme acts on a damaged strand, 5' from the damaged site.