hydrolase

American  

[hahy-druh-leys, -leyz] / ˈhaɪ drəˌleɪs, -ˌleɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis.

---

hydrolase British  

/ ˈhaɪdrəˌleɪz /

noun

1. an enzyme, such as an esterase, that controls hydrolysis

---

Etymology

Origin of hydrolase

First recorded in 1920–25; hydr- ¹ + -ol ¹ + -ase

Example Sentences

The researchers, who published their results recently in Nature, identified a new role for an old bacterial enzyme, known as bile salt hydrolase, or BSH.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

Normally, they are broken down by an enzyme called fatty acid amide hydrolase, or FAAH.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 6, 2020

The enzyme—organophosphorus hydrolase, or OPH, which breaks down OPs into harmless components—also worked without the cloak, but only for a few brief hours.

From Scientific American • Jan. 8, 2019

Three years old, she has an extremely rare metabolic disorder called S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency, or AdoHcy.

From Washington Times • Aug. 3, 2014

It's based on a gene known as LTA4H, first seen in mice, which governs the production of an enzyme called leukotriene A4 hydrolase.

From Time Magazine Archive