Nuclease, any enzyme that cleaves nucleic acids. Nucleases, which belong to the class of enzymes called hydrolases, are usually specific in action, ribonucleases acting only upon ribonucleic acids (RNA) and deoxyribonucleases acting only upon deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA).

How are nucleic acids broken down?

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in foods are digested in the small intestine with the help of both pancreatic enzymes and enzymes produced by the small intestine itself. Pancreatic enzymes called ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease break down RNA and DNA, respectively, into smaller nucleic acids.

What does deoxyribonuclease break down?

deoxyribonuclease: any of several enzymes that break down the double-stranded or single-stranded DNA molecule into its component nucleotides.