chlorophyllase: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/Highly TechnicalScientific / Botanical / Biochemical
Quick answer
What does “chlorophyllase” mean?
An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of chlorophyll by removing the phytol tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of chlorophyll by removing the phytol tail.
Chlorophyllase initiates chlorophyll degradation, a critical step in leaf senescence, fruit ripening, and plant stress responses. It's a key target in food science for preserving colour in green vegetables.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is uniformly technical.
Connotations
Purely technical, without cultural or idiomatic connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside specialised botanical, biochemical, or food technology literature.
Grammar
How to Use “chlorophyllase” in a Sentence
The enzyme chlorophyllase (VERB) chlorophyll.Chlorophyllase (VERB) the phytol chain from chlorophyll-a.Researchers (VERB) the chlorophyllase gene.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chlorophyllase” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researchers sought to chlorophyllase the pigment in a controlled setting.
- Does this pathway chlorophyllase all forms of chlorophyll?
American English
- The team attempted to chlorophyllase the extract to study the products.
- The modified bacteria were engineered to chlorophyllase the substrate efficiently.
adverb
British English
- The pigment degraded chlorophyllasically.
- The reaction proceeded chlorophyllase-dependently.
American English
- The breakdown occurred chlorophyllatically in the presence of the enzyme.
- The process functions chlorophyllase-specifically.
adjective
British English
- The chlorophyllasic activity was measured spectrophotometrically.
- They identified a key chlorophyllase-inhibiting compound.
American English
- The chlorophyllase enzyme preparation was stored on ice.
- The study focused on chlorophyllase-mediated degradation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. Might appear in patents for food preservation or agricultural biotechnology.
Academic
Core term in plant physiology, biochemistry, and post-harvest technology papers.
Everyday
Virtually zero usage.
Technical
Precise term for the specific enzyme (EC 3.1.1.14).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chlorophyllase”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chlorophyllase”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chlorophyllase”
- Misspelling as 'chlorophylase' (dropping an 'l').
- Mispronouncing with the stress on 'chloro-' instead of '-phyllase' (ˌklɔːr.ə.fɪlˈeɪz).
- Using it as a general term for anything that breaks down chlorophyll (e.g., light or acid), when it refers specifically to the enzyme.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, chlorophyllase is ubiquitous in chlorophyll-containing tissues of higher plants, algae, and some cyanobacteria, where it plays a role in pigment metabolism.
It is not a common commercial product for general use. Purified chlorophyllase is available from specialised biochemical suppliers for research purposes.
Yes, chlorophyllase is an enzyme whose catalytic activity is not directly light-dependent. However, its gene expression and activity levels are often regulated by light conditions and other environmental factors.
The primary applications are in agriculture and food technology: delaying leaf senescence in crops, and preventing undesirable colour loss in processed green vegetables (e.g., canned peas, frozen broccoli).
An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of chlorophyll by removing the phytol tail.
Chlorophyllase is usually scientific / botanical / biochemical in register.
Chlorophyllase: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɒr.ə.fɪlˈeɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɔːr.ə.fɪlˈeɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"CHLOROphyll-ASE: the ASe (ace) that takes the phytol base."
Conceptual Metaphor
A molecular pair of scissors; a disassembly line worker.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary biochemical function of chlorophyllase?