kinase

American  

[kahy-nays, -nayz, kin-ays, -ayz] / ˈkaɪ neɪs, -neɪz, ˈkɪn eɪs, -eɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a transferase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of a substrate by ATP.

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kinase British  

/ ˈkaɪneɪz, ˈkɪn- /

noun

1. any enzyme that can convert an inactive zymogen to the corresponding enzyme

2. any enzyme that brings about the phosphorylation of a molecule

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kinase Scientific  

/ kī′nās′,-nāz′,kĭn′ās′,-āz′ /

1. Any of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from a donor, such as ADP or ATP, to an acceptor.

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Etymology

Origin of kinase

First recorded in 1900–05; kin(etic) + -ase

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kinase

Bexobrutideg, a BTK kinase degrader, works by destroying target proteins rather than simply turning them off.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

The drug, used to treat various blood cancers, like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is Nurix’s investigational tyrosine kinase degrader that eliminates disease-causing proteins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

Both the Terns pill, code-named TERN-701, and Scemblix are second-generation versions of drugs that inhibit a growth promoter of cancer cells, called tyrosine kinase.

From Barron's ● Dec. 9, 2025

The protein ZAK -- a so-called kinase, that is, an enzyme which activates other molecules by transferring a phosphate group to them -- plays a central role in controlling this stress response.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2025

To transmit pain signals, nerve growth factor binds to a receptor called tropomyosin receptor kinase A, or TrkA.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

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