hydroxylase

1 8.5

A protein that adds an OH group to a molecule

noun
/haɪˈdrɒksɪleɪs/

Specialized

: hidroxilasa

During the biochemical process, hydroxylase converts phenylalanine into tyrosine by introducing a hydroxyl group.
hydroxylase deficiency
21-hydroxylase

Examples

Researchers study hydroxylase enzymes to understand their effects on metabolic pathways in living organisms.
Getting angry releases an enzyme... tryptophan hydroxylase... which can temporarily reduce the IQ.

Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Patients with typical manifestations of CAIS and 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency were excluded.

Academic text (2018)
DOPA responsive dystonia is typically associated with mutations in this tyrosine hydroxylase gene which is upstream of dopamine production.
The enzyme hydroxylase plays a crucial role in adding a hydroxyl group to various organic compounds.

Surface Forms

hydroxylase singular

hydroxylases plural

Morphology

hydroxylase = hydroxyl (semi-transparent) = hydroxyl + ase

Formally transparent as 'hydroxyl' + the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase', but this naming pattern and the term 'hydroxyl' are specialized technical knowledge not familiar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Hydroxylase comes from parts you can recognise: hydro- ('water') and oxyl ('oxygen') to form the 'hydroxyl' or 'OH' group, plus -ase, the common ending for enzymes. So a hydroxylase is an enzyme that adds an 'OH', which is one hydrogen and one oxygen, to a molecule.