Ribonuclease H enzymes cleave the phosphodiester bonds of RNA in a double-stranded RNA:DNA hybrid, leaving a 3' hydroxyl and a 5' phosphate group on either end of the cut site with a two-metal-ion catalysis mechanism, in which two divalent cations, such as Mg2+ and Mn2+, directly participate in the catalytic function.

Where does RNase H cleave?

During minus-strand DNA synthesis, HIV-1 RNase H is known to cleave specifically at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the cleavage-resistant 3′PPT region, which forms a primer for the plus-strand DNA synthesis.

What does RNase H remove?

RNase H is found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of all cells [74]. Its regular function is to remove RNA primers from Okazaki fragments during DNA replication.