enzyme Definition
a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
Using enzyme: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "enzyme" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Enzymes are essential for digestion.
Example
The enzyme lactase breaks down lactose in milk.
Example
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar.
enzyme Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for enzyme
- catalyst
- biocatalyst
- ferment
Phrases with enzyme
an enzyme that helps break down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and used by the body
Example
Lipase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down fats.
an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids
Example
Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach.
an enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sites, used in genetic engineering to create recombinant DNA molecules
Example
EcoRI is a commonly used restriction enzyme in molecular biology.
Summary: enzyme in Brief
An 'enzyme' [ˈɛnzaɪm] is a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. Enzymes are essential for digestion and other biological processes, such as breaking down starch into sugar. They can be classified into different types, including digestive enzymes, proteolytic enzymes, and restriction enzymes, which are used in genetic engineering.