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

polymerase

/ pə-lĭm′ə-rās′,pŏl′ə-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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymerase¹

First recorded in 1955–60; polymer + -ase

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post

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.

From Science News

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.

From Science News

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

From Science News

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

From Quanta Magazine