phosphatase

American  

[fos-fuh-teys, -teyz] / ˈfɒs fəˌteɪs, -ˌteɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of several classes of esterases of varying specificity that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphoric esters.

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phosphatase British  

/ ˈfɒsfəˌteɪs, -ˌteɪz /

noun

1. any of a group of enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of organic phosphates

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Etymology

Origin of phosphatase

First recorded in 1910–15; phosphate + -ase

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phosphatase

In younger forests, where nitrogen tends to be the most limiting nutrient, adding phosphorus did not change phosphatase activity, but adding nitrogen did.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2024

In older forests, phosphatase activity increased in response to phosphorus fertilization, implying that nitrogen limitation disappears as the forest matures and then becomes phosphorus limited.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2024

As advertised, the drug is lowering levels of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in their blood, and that should be a sign of healing for their autoimmune disease, called primary biliary cholangitis.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 3, 2022

What’s more, the wildflowers’ sticky hairs oozed phosphatase, a digestive enzyme that many carnivorous plants secrete to consume prey.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2021

Osteoporosis does not have the elevated blood levels of alkaline phosphatase found in Paget’s disease.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013