Hydrolase
Hydrolase
Hydrolase (/haɪˈdrɒleɪz/, from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water and 'lase' meaning to loosen) is a type of Enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of a chemical bond.
Etymology
The term "Hydrolase" is derived from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water and 'lase' meaning to loosen. This is in reference to the enzyme's function of catalyzing the hydrolysis of a chemical bond.
Function
Hydrolases play a crucial role in the body's metabolic processes. They are responsible for breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones through the process of hydrolysis. This process involves the addition of a water molecule, which breaks the bond holding the larger molecule together.
Types of Hydrolases
There are several types of hydrolases, each with a specific function. These include:
- Esterase: Breaks down esters into an acid and an alcohol.
- Protease: Breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids.
- Lipase: Breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.
- Glycosidase: Breaks down glycosides into sugars.
- Phosphatase: Removes a phosphate group from a molecule.
Related Terms
- Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes a specific biochemical reaction.
- Hydrolysis: The chemical process in which a molecule is cleaved into two parts by the addition of a water molecule.
- Substrate: The molecule upon which an enzyme acts.
- Active site: The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hydrolase
- Wikipedia's article - Hydrolase
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski