Deoxyribonuclease
A deoxyribonuclease, an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of deoxyribonucleic acid molecule chains ( DNA) into shorter molecular chains or individual building blocks. Deoxyribonucleases are nucleases.
Synonyms / meanings
- Synonyms: DNase / ˌ de ː ˀ ɛn a zə ː /, DNAse outdated
- In a broader sense, all nucleolytic enzymes ( ie all nucleases ), shred the DNA, DNase.
- In a narrower sense are meant by the nucleases DNase, which carry the name " DNase " in the name.
DNases in the strict sense
DNase I ( DNase neutral )
- Localization: the pancreas and liver, platelets and blood plasma, intracellular probably mainly in the nucleus and mitochondria
- Function: Enzymatic cleavage between the 5'- phosphate group and the 3'-hydroxyl group of two nucleotides: Formation of nucleoside 5'- phosphates
- Note: The DNase I is attributed to the frame of apoptosis play a role in fragmentation of cellular DNA.
- Note: DNase I binds to the cytoskeletal protein actin with very high affinity. The function of this interaction is controversial; but since aktingebundene DNase I is enzymatically inactive, the DNase I- Aktinkomplex could be the storage form of DNase I in the cell, which can not cause any damage to the genetic material.
- Location: pancreas, body fluids (blood plasma, urine, breast milk, etc.), intracellularly mainly in lysosomes and nucleus
- Function: Enzymatic cleavage between the 5'-phosphate group and the 3 -hydroxy group of one nucleotide: the formation of nucleoside -3'- phosphates
Use as drug
Recombinant human DNase I ( rhDNase I Abbr, free name dornase alpha, ATC code R05BC013 ) is used under the trade name Pulmozyme ® as inhaled drug to the dissolution of the present in the mucus of cystic fibrosis patients DNA filaments. Thus, the spinnability of the mucus is reduced and improve mucociliary clearance.