hydrolytic enzyme

1 definition found

hydrolytic enzyme - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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]