enzyme -
any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions
protein any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino acids; essential in the diet of animals for growth and for repair of tissues; can be obtained from meat and eggs and milk and legumes; "a diet high in protein"
catalyst,
accelerator something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country"
active site the part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs
ada,
adenosine deaminase an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia; "ADA deficiency can lead to one form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease"; "the gene encoding ADA was one of the earlier human genes to be isolated and cloned for study"
amylase any of a group of proteins found in saliva and pancreatic juice and parts of plants; help convert starch to sugar
cholinesterase an enzyme that hydrolyses acetylcholine (into choline and acetic acid)
collagenase any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of collagen and gelatin
complement something added to complete or embellish or make perfect; "a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner"; "wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish"
catalase enzyme found in most plant and animal cells that functions as an oxidative catalyst; decomposes hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water
cyclooxygenase,
cox either of two related enzymes that control the production of prostaglandins and are blocked by aspirin
decarboxylase any of the enzymes that hydrolize the carboxyl group
de-iodinase an enzyme that removes the iodine radical
disaccharidase an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of disaccharides into monosaccharides
elastase a pancreatic enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of elastin
enterokinase enzyme in the intestinal juice that converts inactive trypsinogen into active trypsin
histaminase enzyme that acts as a catalyst in converting histidine to histamine
hyaluronidase,
hyazyme,
spreading factor an enzyme (trade name Hyazyme) that splits hyaluronic acid and so lowers its viscosity and increases the permeability of connective tissue and the absorption of fluids
isomerase an enzyme that catalyzes its substrate to an isomeric form
kinase an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of a proenzyme to an active enzyme
lipase an enzyme secreted in the digestive tract that catalyzes the breakdown of fats into individual fatty acids that can be absorbed into the bloodstream
lysozyme,
muramidase an enzyme found in saliva and sweat and tears that destroys the cell walls of certain bacteria
monoamine oxidase,
mao an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of many body compounds (e.g., epinephrine and norepinephrine and serotonin)
nitrogenase an enzyme of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that catalyzes the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia
nuclease general term for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of nucleic acid by cleaving chains of nucleotides into smaller units
oxidase any of the enzymes that catalyze biological oxidation
reductase an enzyme that catalyses the biochemical reduction of some specified substance
chymosin,
rennin an enzyme that occurs in gastric juice; causes milk to coagulate
secretase a set of enzymes believed to snip pieces off a longer protein producing fragments of amyloid protein that bunch up and create amyloid protein plaques in brain tissue (the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's)
streptodornase an enzyme produced by some hemolytic strains of streptococcus that dissolves fibrinous secretions from infections; used medicinally (often in combination with streptokinase)
streptokinase an enzyme produced by some strains of streptococcus that can liquefy blood clots by converting plasminogen to plasmin; used medicinally in some cases of myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism
superoxide dismutase,
sod an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen; "oxygen free radicals are normally removed in our bodies by the superoxide dismutase enzymes"
telomerase an enzyme in eukaryotic cells that can add telomeres to the ends of chromosomes after they divide
transferase any of various enzymes that move a chemical group from one compound to another compound
trypsin an enzyme of pancreatic origin; catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins to smaller polypeptide units
urease an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia; is present in intestinal bacteria
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, called the products. Almost all processes in a biological cell need enzymes to occur at significant rates.
OmegaWiki Dictionary
Ω
enzyme Any of a group of catalytic proteins that are produced by living cells and that mediate and promote the chemical processes of life without themselves being altered or destroyed.
