ATPase

American

[ey-tee-pee-eys, -eyz] / ˈeɪˈtiˈpi eɪs, -eɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

adenosine triphosphatase: any of several enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and phosphate.

ATPase British

/ ˌeɪtiːˈpiːˌeɪz /

noun

adenosine triphosphatase; an enzyme that converts ATP to ADP

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ATPase

First recorded in 1945–50; ATP + -ase

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Using single-cell transcriptomics and functional testing, the team found that blocking this excessive lysosomal activity with a vacuolar ATPase inhibitor restored lysosomal health and improved the function of aging blood stem cells.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

Medications such as omeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole work by blocking the H+, K+, ATPase enzyme, also known as the proton pump.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

Specifically, when ingested, the toxin targets the electrolyte pumps in the wall of the heart called the sodium potassium ATPase pump.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025

Two other carrier proteins are Ca2+ ATPase and H+ ATPase, which carry only calcium and only hydrogen ions, respectively.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Rapid restoration of cytoplasmic pH does not occur in the presence of ATPase inhibitors.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023