Advertisement

Advertisement

polymerase

[ pol-uh-muh-reys, -reyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.
  1. any of several enzymes that catalyze the formation of a long-chain molecule by linking smaller molecular units, as nucleotides with nucleic acids.


polymerase

/ pəˈlɪməreɪz /

noun

  1. any enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of a polymer, esp the synthesis of DNA or RNA
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


polymerase

/ pə-lĭmə-rās′,pŏlə-mə-rās′ /

  1. Any of various enzymes, such as DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, or reverse transcriptase, that catalyze the formation of sequences of DNA or RNA using an existing strand of DNA or RNA as a template.


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymerase1

First recorded in 1955–60; polymer + -ase
Discover More

Example Sentences

PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, a technique that amplifies trace amounts of virus DNA.

When it is inserted into a growing strand of RNA, it slows the polymerase, eventually causing it to grind to a halt, much like a car entering an intersection as the traffic light turns yellow may stop in the middle of the intersection, he says.

Molnupiravir instead pockmarks the RNA with many mutations, causing the breakdown of the polymerase and other viral components, much like a pothole-strewn road can cause a car to break down.

Indeed, this phage’s polymerase isn’t what he was looking for.

The fast-growing cells may need to concentrate the polymerase around ribosomal genes to synthesize ribosomal RNA efficiently.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


polymerpolymeric