Which enzymes hydrolyze RNA and DNA to form mononucleotides?

• A. Amylase and lipase
• B. Ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease
• C. Protease and pepsin
• D. Trypsin and chymotrypsin

Answer: (B)

Nucleic acid digestion requires enzymes that cleave the phosphodiester bonds in RNA and DNA to release mononucleotides. Ribonuclease specifically hydrolyzes RNA, while deoxyribonuclease targets DNA, yielding mononucleotides from each nucleic acid. The other enzymes listed act on proteins or carbohydrates/fats (amylase for starch, lipase for fats, proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin for proteins), so they don’t produce mononucleotides from nucleic acids.