What is "ribonuclease"

n. (context enzyme English) Any of a group of enzymes which catalyzes the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid.

n. a transferase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid [syn: ribonucleinase, RNase]

Ribonuclease (commonly abbreviated RNase) is a type of nuclease that catalyzes the degradation of RNA into smaller components. Ribonucleases can be divided into endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases, and comprise several sub-classes within the EC 2.7 (for the phosphorolytic enzymes) and 3.1 (for the hydrolytic enzymes) classes of enzymes.