Why is EDTA used in the TE buffer?

EDTA is a metal chelating agent. It is used in the TE buffer to chelate with metal ions present in nucleases, thus deactivating the activities of the nuclease and protecting nucleic acids from degradation. Metal ions act as a cofactor, increasing the catalytic activities of enzymes. The presence of EDTA hampers their activities and reduces the efficiency of the enzyme. EDTA stands for ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid. Its chemical formula is C10H16N2O8. .