Which enzyme is known for its role in facilitating the breaking of DNA strands?

The Cas9 enzyme is integral to the process of DNA strand breaking, particularly in the context of CRISPR technology. It is a programmable endonuclease, which means it can be guided to a specific DNA sequence through a complementary RNA sequence. Once targeted, Cas9 introduces a double-strand break in the DNA at that precise location.

This ability to create double-strand breaks is crucial for various genetic manipulation techniques, allowing researchers to edit genes, insert new sequences, or knock out genes entirely. The precision of Cas9 makes it a powerful tool for genome editing in a range of organisms, including plants, animals, and even human cells.

In contrast, the other enzymes listed play different roles in DNA metabolism: Ligase is involved in the joining of DNA strands, Helicase unwinds the DNA double helix ahead of replication, and Telomerase extends the telomers on chromosomes, none of which directly facilitate the breaking of DNA strands like Cas9 does.