Word Study
hydrolase
CIDE DICTIONARY
hydrolase, n. [Hydrolysis + -ase.].
an enzyme which causes the splitting of a chemical bond with the addition of the elements of water; a hydrolytic enzyme. Formerly called a hydrolytic ferment .
"There are many known hydrolases , including nearly all of the digestive enzymes. Among the hydrolases are the esterases , which split ester bonds and amidases , which split amide bonds, and among the latter are the proteases and peptidases , which split peptide bonds, such as those found in proteins." [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
hydrolase, n. Biochem. any enzyme which catalyses the hydrolysis of a substrate.
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