Final answer:
Nucleases are the enzymes responsible for cleaving the phosphodiester bonds in nucleic acids, enabling processes such as DNA repair and replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nucleases are enzymes capable of cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides of nucleic acids. During DNA repair, after a DNA glycosylase removes an offending base, an AP endonuclease recognizes the deoxyribose with the missing base and nicks the DNA at that site. A phosphodiesterase enzyme then hydrolyzes the remaining phosphate-ester bond of the 'base-less' sugar phosphate, effectively removing it from the DNA strand. This prepares the DNA for the action of DNA polymerase, which adds the correct nucleotide to the 3' end of the nick, and DNA ligase, which seals the remaining nick with an ATP-dependent process. These processes are essential for maintaining the integrity of DNA during replication and repair. Restriction endonucleases are a special class of nuclease that cleave dsDNA at specific sequences, acting as both a defense mechanism in bacteria and a tool in molecular biology.
The enzymes that are capable of cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides of nucleic acids are called nucleases. Nucleases are responsible for breaking down nucleic acids by hydrolyzing the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.
For example, during DNA replication, a specific type of nuclease called endonuclease recognizes and cleaves the DNA strand at specific sites, such as where a base is missing. This cleavage allows for the removal of the damaged or incorrect nucleotide.
Overall, nucleases play a crucial role in DNA repair, DNA replication, and other nucleic acid metabolism processes.