enzyme
noun
en·​zyme
| \ ˈen-ˌzīm
\
\
Definition of enzyme
: any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions at body temperatures
Examples of enzyme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These drugs inhibit an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that copies HIV into the genome of host cells. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "No cure yet, but progress made in managing and detecting Alzheimer’s," 26 Aug. 2019 The fireflies were then ground up for its enzymes luciferin and luciferase, which give it its bioluminescent capabilities. — Dan Radel, USA TODAY, "Fireflies are dying out because people are destroying their habitats," 1 Aug. 2019 In 2008, bacteria containing an enzyme known as NDM-1 were found in a Swedish patient who had been to India. — Ranjit Devraj, Quartz India, "Superbugs have returned to haunt India’s hospitals," 23 July 2019 These are sessile invertebrates that make use of vanadium in some of their enzymes, thus concentrating it in their bodies. — The Economist, "Buried metal artefacts gather stories on their surfaces," 4 July 2019 The gene causes the chestnut to produce oxalate oxidase, an enzyme that detoxifies the blight’s acid. — Julia Rosen, latimes.com, "Should we resurrect the American chestnut tree with genetic engineering?," 25 June 2019 Scientists use a gene from bread wheat that produces an enzyme called oxalate oxidase, which prevents the fungus from forming cankers on plant stems. — Hank Campbell, WSJ, "Science Saves an Old Chestnut," 19 June 2019 The short paper describes his preclinical work using CRISPR and its Cas9 enzyme to modify CCR5 in nonviable human embryos. — Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, "Russian geneticist answers challenges to his plan to make gene-edited babies," 13 June 2019 The abnormalities were subtle — a hint of anemia, a slightly low sodium level, a mildly abnormal kidney function, a small elevation of his gallbladder enzymes and dark concentrated urine. — Julia Michie Bruckner, Discover Magazine, "Is a Teen's Pain Just Drama, or Something Worse?," 12 Mar. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enzyme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for enzyme
enzyme
noun
English Language Learners Definition of enzyme
technical
: a chemical substance in animals and plants that helps to cause natural processes (such as digestion)
See the full definition for enzyme in the English Language Learners Dictionary
enzyme
noun
en·​zyme
| \ ˈen-ˌzīm
\
\
Kids Definition of enzyme
: a substance produced by body cells that helps bring about or speed up bodily chemical activities (as the digestion of food) without being destroyed in so doing
enzyme
noun
en·​zyme
| \ ˈen-ˌzīm
\
\
Medical Definition of enzyme
: any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions at body temperatures
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