Question

Which of the following is responsible for the inhibition of transformation in organisms?

(a) DNase

(b) RNase

(c) Protease

(d) Nuclease

I had been asked this question by my school principal while I was bunking the class.

My doubt stems from The Search for Genetic Material topic in chapter Molecular Basis of Inheritance of Biology – Class 12

Answer 1

Right option is (a) DNase

To explain I would say: The presence of protease (protein digesting enzymes) and RNase (RNA digesting enzymes) in the presence of the virulent or avirulent strains will not affect the process of transformation. But on the contrary, when the DNase is present, the process of transformation will not occur. This proves that the transformation process cannot occur as long as the DNase enzyme is present. The role of nuclease is to cleave the phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotides of nucleic acids.