amidase: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “amidase” mean?
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of amides, releasing ammonia and a carboxylic acid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of amides, releasing ammonia and a carboxylic acid.
Any enzyme belonging to a specific class (EC 3.5.1.4) that acts on the carbon-nitrogen bond in linear amides, often involved in metabolic pathways for nitrogen-containing compounds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or conceptual differences. Spelling conventions (e.g., 'catalyses' vs. 'catalyzes') may apply in surrounding text, not the term itself.
Connotations
Purely technical, neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Exclusively used in biochemical, microbiological, and related research contexts with equal rarity in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “amidase” in a Sentence
The amidase [hydrolyses/cleaves] the amide bond.Amidase activity was [measured/detected/observed] in the extract.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amidase” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The enzyme amidases the substrate efficiently.
- This pathway involves amidasing the compound.
American English
- The enzyme amidases the substrate efficiently.
- This pathway involves amidasing the compound.
adverb
British English
- The reaction proceeded amidase-dependently.
- The protein was cleaved amidase-specifically.
American English
- The reaction proceeded amidase-dependently.
- The protein was cleaved amidase-specifically.
adjective
British English
- The amidase activity was localised to the cytoplasm.
- An amidase-deficient mutant was created.
American English
- The amidase activity was localized to the cytoplasm.
- An amidase-deficient mutant was created.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in biochemistry, molecular biology, and microbiology research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term within its specific biochemical niche for describing enzyme function and metabolic engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amidase”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amidase”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amidase”
- Misspelling as 'amidaze' or 'amidise'.
- Incorrect plural: 'amidases' (correct) not 'amidasees'.
- Confusing it with 'amylase' (starch-digesting enzyme).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized technical term used almost exclusively in biochemistry and related fields.
In specialist jargon, it is occasionally verbalised (e.g., 'The enzyme amidases the substrate'), but the noun form is vastly more common.
Both are hydrolases. Amidases act on simple amide bonds (R-CO-NH2), while proteases act on peptide bonds (the amide bonds linking amino acids in proteins). All proteases are amidases, but not all amidases are proteases.
In British English, /ˈæmɪdeɪz/. In American English, /ˈæmɪdeɪs/ is common, though the /z/ ending is also heard. The stress is always on the first syllable: AM-i-dase.
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of amides, releasing ammonia and a carboxylic acid.
Amidase is usually technical/scientific in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is non-idiomatic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AMIde' + '-ASE' (enzyme suffix). It's the 'ase' (enzyme) that acts on an 'amide'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCISSORS FOR A SPECIFIC KNOT: The enzyme is a precise cutting tool designed to sever the specific 'knot' of the amide bond.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an amidase?