RNase

Ribonucleases (RNases) are a group of enzymes that specifically degrade RNA. In the lab RNases are used to selectively degrade RNA during DNA purification or in RNA protection assays. In organisms RNases are part of normal RNA turnover and serve defensive purposes. RNases can be grouped by where they cut RNA: from the ends (exonucleases) or in the middle of the strand (endonucleases) and by their specificity (ssRNA, dsRNA, DNA:RNA,..).