noun
- An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of glycosidic bonds, which link sugar molecules together in carbohydrates and glycosides.
Usage: technical; biochemistry
Examples
- Lactase is a glycosidase that breaks down lactose in milk.
- The enzyme amylase is a glycosidase that helps digest starch.
- Glycosidases are essential for breaking down complex carbohydrates in the digestive system.
- Researchers studied how glycosidase activity affects the metabolism of plant cell walls.
- Many microorganisms produce glycosidases to decompose cellulose and other polysaccharides.