zymase
1
9.9
A group of enzymes in yeast that change sugar into energy
- noun
- /ˈzaɪmeɪz/
- Specialized
:
zimasa
- Zymase is essential for yeast to convert sugar into alcohol during fermentation.
Examples
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The production of beer relies on zymase to break down glucose into ethanol.
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In the brewing industry, zymase plays a crucial role by facilitating the glycolysis process.
-
Zymase.
Surface Forms
Morphology
zymase = enzyme (semi-transparent) = zym + ase
The suffix '-ase' reliably signals an enzyme, so the word's enzyme meaning is predictable, but the combining form 'zym-' (ferment) is technical/rare for general learners.
Etymology
Zymase comes from the Greek word zyme meaning 'ferment' and the enzyme ending -ase. You can even see zyme in the familiar word enzyme, so zymase is an enzyme that helps fermentation and the breakdown of sugar in yeast and other cells, which is why the word names that group of enzymes.