The nucleases are also known as the phosphodiesterases. The nucleases degrade the nucleic acid by hydrolysis the internucleotide phosphodiester bonds. These enzymes are specific for the DNA, RNA, single stranded and the double stranded molecules. On the basis of the function the nucleases are divided into two; they are the exonucleases and the endonucleases. The exonuclease enzymes degrade the nucleic acid in a stepwise manner. The endonucleases make the internal cuts in the nucleic acids by hydrolyzing the interior ester bonds.
