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phosphatase

American

[fos-fuh-tays, -tayz] / ˈfɒs fəˌteɪs, -ˌteɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

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

phosphatase British

/ ˈfɒsfəˌteɪs, -ˌteɪz /

noun

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

"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 phosphatase

First recorded in 1910–15; phosphate + -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.

See Examples For:

phosphatase

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

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

Although the trial required for accelerated approval was too short to show long-term improvement, the drug lowered alkaline phosphatase levels in many patients who could tolerate taking it.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 3, 2022

A phosphatase phosphorylates serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 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

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