Endonucleases are enzymes that cleave the phosphodiester bond within a polynucleotide chain. Some, such as Deoxyribonuclease I, cut DNA relatively nonspecifically (without regard to sequence), while many, typically called restriction endonucleases or restriction enzymes, cleave only at very specific nucleotide sequences. Endonucleases differ from exonucleases, which cleave the ends of recognition sequences instead of the middle (endo) portion. Some enzymes, however, are not limited to either nuclease function, displaying qualities that are both endo- and exo-like[1]. Evidence suggests that endonuclease activity experiences a lag compared to exonuclease activity [2].
