Glossary
Nuclease
An enzyme that degrades DNA or RNA, the main reason unmodified oligos do not survive in the body.
Nucleases are enzymes that break down nucleic acids by cutting the phosphodiester backbone. They are abundant in blood and tissue, and they degrade unmodified DNA and RNA within minutes.
Protecting an oligo from nucleases, most often with a phosphorothioate backbone and two prime sugar modifications, is essential to making it a viable medicine.
Related terms
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