Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
galactosidase

galactosidase

1 7.9
A protein that breaks down a sugar called galactoside
  • noun
  • /ɡəˌlæktəˈsaɪdeɪz/
  • Specialized
: galactosidasa
  • PHOTO (COLOR): Plant physiologist Ken Gross examines tomato fruit used in the beta-galactosidase genetic engineering research program.
  • beta-galactosidase

Examples

  • This is the gene for beta galactosidase and another gene called lack Y and lack Z.

  • According to Smith, these enzymes include a group called beta-galactosidases.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Now, I told you before that beta galactosidase was a cytoplasmic protein, and it is, but it's a tetramer.

  • In case of doubt, beta-galactosidase assays can be used to assess the induction of aging processes in the respective cells.

    Blog text (4)

  • He has identified and cloned a family of seven beta-galactosidase genes in tomatoes that include the gene responsible for degrading cell wall structure.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The enzyme galactosidase is essential for breaking down complex sugars in the digestive system.

  • Researchers found that the galactosidase enzyme plays a vital role in the metabolism of lactose in cells.

  • The genetic engineering of bacteria often involves inserting genes that code for galactosidase to facilitate sugar breakdown.

Surface Forms

galactosidase singular
galactosidases plural

Morphology

galactosidase = galactoside (semi-transparent) = galactoside + ase

Formed by the standard enzyme suffix '-ase' attached to 'galactoside'; the morphological formation is regular in scientific vocabulary but the components are technical and likely unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Galactosidase comes from the Greek part galact- meaning 'milk' and the enzyme ending -ase, and is related to galactose, the 'milk' sugar. So galactosidase is the enzyme that 'breaks down' those milk sugars in the body.