'Hydrolase' definitions:
Definition of 'Hydrolase'
From: GCIDE
- Hydrolase \Hy"dro*lase\, n. [Hydrolysis + -ase.]
- 1. (Chem.) an enzyme which causes the splitting of a chemical bond with the addition of the elements of water; a hydrolytic enzyme. Formerly called a hydrolytic ferment.
- Note: There are many known hydrolases, including nearly all of the digestive enzymes. Among the hydrolases are the esterases, which split ester bonds and amidases, which split amide bonds, and among the latter are the proteases and peptidases, which split peptide bonds, such as those found in proteins. [PJC]
Definition of 'hydrolase'
From: GCIDE
- Hydrolytic \Hy`dro*lyt"ic\, a. [Hydro-, 1 + Gr. ? to loose.]
- 1. (Chem.) Tending to remove or separate water; eliminating water. [archaic] [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Chem.) of, pertaining to, or accompanied by hydrolysis. [PJC]
- Hydrolytic agents, such as sulphuric acid or caustic alkali. --Encyc. Brit. [1913 Webster]
- Hydrolytic ferment (Physiol. Chem.), an enzyme (formerly referred to as a ferment), which acts only in the presence of water, and which causes the substance acted upon to take up a molecule of water, resulting in the splitting of a chemical bond and often splitting one compound into two. Thus, diastase of malt, ptyalin of saliva, and boiling dilute sulphuric acid all convert starch by hydration into dextrin and sugar. Nearly all of the digestive enzymes are hydrolytic in their action. Since 1910 such an enzyme is usually referred to as a {hydrolase} or {{hydrolytic enzyme}}. [1913 Webster +PJC]