-ase

DEFINITION of -ase

Enzyme - In biochemistry and medical terminology, -ase is a standardized suffix used systematically to name enzymes based on either the substrate they act upon or the type of chemical reaction they catalyze. It was established by the Enzyme Commission (EC) in the 1950s as part of the international nomenclature for enzymes, where names follow patterns like substrate + -ase (e.g., lactase breaks down lactose) or _reaction type + -ase (e.g., protease for protein hydrolysis). This convention aids precise identification in pharmacology, lab medicine, and research; exceptions exist for older or common names like _pepsin.

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ETYMOLOGY of -ase

greek - Coined in 1878 by German physiologist  Wilhelm Kühne, who created Enzym (enzyme) from Greek en- (“in”) + zymē (“leaven, ferment”).

• The -ase ending was abstracted from this to form a productive suffix for new enzymes, entering widespread biochemical use by the early 20th century via International Scientific Vocabulary.
• Reflects the idea of enzymes as “fermenters” or catalysts activating reactions within cells.

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RELATED TERMS to -ase

| -ase | enzyme | - | | amylase | YES |  digests starches | |protease | YES |  breaks down proteins | | zym- | YES | ferment, fermentation | | lipase | NO | hydrolyzes fats (lipids) |

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DERIVATIONS of -ase

TABLE definition AS Definition 
WHERE length(filter(roots, (word) => econtains([[]].roots, word))) > 0 AND file.name != [[]].file.name
SORT file.name ASC

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Query functionality

TABLE definition AS Definition
FROM #medroot
WHERE length(filter(definition, (word) => econtains([[]].definition, word))) > 0 AND file.name != [[]].file.name

Med roots dictionary Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms