sulfatase: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “sulfatase” mean?
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sulfate esters.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sulfate esters.
In biochemistry and medicine, any of a group of enzymes that remove sulfate groups from molecules such as glycosaminoglycans, steroids, or other compounds, playing crucial roles in metabolism and cellular processes. Deficiencies in specific sulfatases can lead to lysosomal storage disorders.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary difference is the spelling of the root: 'sulphatase' is the standard British spelling, while 'sulfatase' is standard American. Pronunciation is largely identical.
Connotations
No difference in connotation; purely a spelling variant.
Frequency
The term has equal but very low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical literature. The American spelling 'sulfatase' is increasingly common in international journals.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfatase” in a Sentence
The [specific] sulfatase cleaves [substrate].A deficiency in [enzyme name] sulfatase causes [disease].Researchers measured the sulfatase activity in the sample.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfatase” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The enzyme sulphatases the steroid conjugate.
- This pathway involves sulphatasing the substrate.
American English
- The enzyme sulfatases the steroid conjugate.
- This pathway involves sulfatasing the substrate.
adjective
British English
- The sulphatase activity was markedly reduced.
- They identified a new sulphatase gene.
American English
- The sulfatase activity was markedly reduced.
- They identified a new sulfatase gene.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and medical research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary context. Used in lab reports, clinical diagnoses (e.g., of metabolic disorders), and pharmaceutical research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulfatase”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sulfatase”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfatase”
- Misspelling as 'sulphatise' or 'sulfatize' (confusion with verb forms).
- Using it as a general term for any sulfate-related process instead of specifically an enzyme.
- Incorrect plural: 'sulfatases' is correct, not 'sulfatase' for multiple types.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same class of enzymes. 'Sulfatase' is the American English spelling, and 'sulphatase' is the British English spelling.
It is almost exclusively used in specialized scientific fields such as biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and clinical medicine, particularly in relation to metabolic disorders.
In highly technical jargon, it is sometimes used verbally (e.g., 'the enzyme sulfatases the substrate'), but this is rare and not standard in general English. The noun form is overwhelmingly dominant.
A functional antonym is 'sulfotransferase', which is an enzyme that adds sulfate groups to molecules, whereas a sulfatase removes them.
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sulfate esters.
Sulfatase is usually technical/scientific in register.
Sulfatase: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌl.fə.teɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌl.fə.teɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Sulfate' + '-ase' (the standard suffix for enzymes). It's the enzyme that 'takes' (-ase) the sulfate off.
Conceptual Metaphor
A molecular 'scissors' or 'clipper' that specifically cuts off sulfate tags from other molecules.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a sulfatase?