protease
|pro-te-ase|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈproʊ.ti.eɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈprəʊ.ti.eɪz/
protein-digesting enzyme
Etymology
Etymology Information
'protease' originates from 'protein' and the suffix '-ase', where 'protein' refers to a class of biological molecules and '-ase' is used to denote enzymes.
Historical Evolution
'protease' was formed in the early 20th century by combining 'protein' and '-ase', following the naming convention for enzymes.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'an enzyme that breaks down proteins', and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids by hydrolyzing peptide bonds.
Protease is essential for digestion in many organisms.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/05 20:50