Inbiochemistry,hydrolases constitute a class ofenzymes that commonly function as biochemicalcatalysts that use water tobreak achemical bond:
This typically results in dividing a larger molecule into smaller molecules. Some common examples of hydrolase enzymes areesterases includinglipases,phosphatases,glycosidases,peptidases, andnucleosidases.
Esterases cleave ester bonds inlipids and phosphatases cleavephosphate groups off molecules. An example of crucial esterase isacetylcholine esterase, which assists in transforming the neuron impulse into theacetate group after the hydrolase breaks theacetylcholine intocholine andacetic acid.[1] Acetic acid is an important metabolite in the body and a critical intermediate for other reactions such asglycolysis. Lipases hydrolyzeglycerides. Glycosidases cleave sugar molecules off carbohydrates and peptidases hydrolyzepeptide bonds. Nucleosidases hydrolyze the bonds ofnucleotides.[2]
Hydrolase enzymes are important for the body because they have degradative properties. In lipids, lipases contribute to the breakdown of fats and lipoproteins and other larger molecules into smaller molecules like fatty acids andglycerol. Fatty acids and other small molecules are used for synthesis and as a source of energy.[1]
Systematic names of hydrolases are formed as "substrate hydrolase." However, common names are typically in the form "substrate base". For example, anuclease is a hydrolase that cleavesnucleic acids.
Hydrolases are classified asEC 3 in theEC number classification of enzymes. Hydrolases can be further classified into several subclasses, based upon the bonds they act upon:
Hydrolase secreted byLactobacillus jensenii in thehuman gut stimulates theliver to secretebile salts that aids in the digestion of food.[3]
Many hydrolases, and especiallyproteases associate withbiological membranes asperipheral membrane proteins or anchored through a singletransmembrane helix.[4] Some others are multi-spantransmembrane proteins, for examplerhomboid protease.
The wordhydrolase (/ˈhaɪdroʊleɪs,-leɪz/) suffixes thecombining form of-ase to thehydrol syllables ofhydrolysis.
