-ase

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title: "-ase" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["chemistry-suffixes", "biological-nomenclature", "suffixes-of-greek-origin", "english-suffixes"] description: "Suffix for enzymes in biochemistry" topic_path: "science/chemistry" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-ase" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Suffix for enzymes in biochemistry ::

The suffix -ase is used in biochemistry to form names of enzymes. The most common way to name enzymes is to add this suffix onto the end of the substrate, e.g. an enzyme that breaks down peroxides may be called peroxidase; the enzyme that produces telomeres is called telomerase. Sometimes enzymes are named for the function they perform, rather than substrate, e.g. the enzyme that polymerizes (assembles) DNA into strands is called polymerase; see also reverse transcriptase.

Etymology

The -ase suffix is a libfix derived from "diastase", the first recognized enzyme. Its usage in subsequently discovered enzymes was proposed by Émile Duclaux, with the intention of honoring the first scientists to isolate diastase.

References

References

1. (2002). "DNA REPLICATION Mechanism Book". B Alberts.
2. (2005). "Collins dictionary of medicine". Collins.
3. (January 1934). "Dictionary of American Biography. Edited by Dumas Malone. Volume X., Jasper—Larkin. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1933. Pp. x, 617. $250 for the complete set.)". The American Historical Review.

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