deoxyribonuclease I

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) is an endonuclease enzyme that cleaves DNA by hydrolyzing phosphodiester bonds adjacent to pyrimidine nucleotides, producing oligonucleotides with terminal 5'-phosphates and 3'-hydroxyl groups. It acts on both single- and double-stranded DNA as well as chromatin. The enzyme requires divalent cations (such as Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺) for activity and is found naturally in human saliva, urine, pancreatic secretions, and blood. Recombinant human DNase I (dornase alfa; brand name Pulmozyme) is used therapeutically to reduce the viscosity of sputum in patients with cystic fibrosis by digesting extracellular DNA in airway secretions. DNase I has also been investigated for use in respiratory failure associated with COVID-19. Mutations or deficiencies in DNASE1 are linked to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus[2][5][6][8].

Brand names

Pulmozymedornase alfa

Other names

Deoxyribonuclease ADeoxyribonucleate 5'-oligonucleotidohydrolase