enzyme(n = noun.substance) - any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions;
is a kind of accelerator, catalyst, protein
has parts: active site
has particulars: ada, adenosine deaminase, amylase, cholinesterase, coagulase, collagenase, complement, catalase, cox, cyclooxygenase, decarboxylase, de-iodinase, disaccharidase, elastase, enterokinase, histaminase, hyaluronidase, hyazyme, spreading factor, isomerase, kinase, lipase, lysozyme, muramidase, mao, monoamine oxidase, nitrogenase, nuclease, oxidase, oxidoreductase, papain, beta-lactamase, penicillinase, pepsin, pepsinogen, phosphatase, fibrinolysin, plasmin, polymerase, peptidase, protease, proteinase, proteolytic enzyme, reductase, chymosin, rennin, secretase, streptodornase, streptokinase, sod, superoxide dismutase, telomerase, transferase, trypsin, urease, zymase
Derived form adjective enzymatic1
A protein produced by a living organism, capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction. Almost all processes in living organisms require some form of enzyme to cause the reactions to occur at a rate sufficient to support life. There are a very wide variety of enzymes, each specifically catalyzing a different chemical reaction, the sum of which cause the bulk of the physiological changes observed as life processes. Enzymes, like most proteins, are synthesized by the protein-synthetic mechanism of the living cell, at special sites on ribosomes, using the genetic information in messenger RNA transcribed from the genetic instructions stored as nuleotide sequences in the DNA (or in some viruses, the RNA) of the genome. Some examples of enzymes are: pepsin, diastase, rennet, DNA polymerase, invertase, glucose oxidase, protease, and ribonuclease. There are many other types of enzyme. [1913 Webster]
"The 1913 Webster defined an enzyme as:
An unorganized or unformed ferment, in distinction from an organized or living ferment; a soluble, or chemical, ferment." [PJC]
enzyme, n. Biochem. a protein acting as a catalyst in a specific biochemical reaction.
Derivative:
enzymatic adj. enzymic adj. enzymology n.
Etymology:
G Enzym f. med. Gk enzumos leavened f. Gk en in + zume leaven
angiotensin converting enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, proteolytic enzyme, restriction enzyme