Definition & Meaning: Ase Word Root
- Amylum: Starch
- -Ase: Suffix for enzyme
- Amylum + -Ase: Amylase, i.e., an enzyme that converts starch to sugar
It is fair to say that words with the word root “Ase” are mostly used to represent enzymes.
Example sentence: Hydrolases are the types of enzymes which help in food digestion and food decomposition.
Words Based on the Ase Word Root
Commonly Used Words Based on this Word Root:
- Amylase: An enzyme present in the saliva that converts complex carbohydrates to simple sugars.
- Lipase: An enzyme which hydrolyses lipids.
- Protease: An enzyme that cuts or breaks down proteins and peptides.
- Polymerase: Any of various enzymes that form particular polymers, especially DNA or RNA.
- Transcriptase: A type of polymerase that deals with the catalysis of DNA to RNA.
Archaic Words Based on this Word Root:
- Dextrase: The enzyme that converts dextrose into lactic acid.
- Glutaminase: An enzyme in the kidney that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamine to ammonia and acid.
Technical Words/Jargon Based on this Word Root:
- Carboxylase: An enzyme that catalyzes a carboxylation reaction or a decarboxylation reaction.
- Cholinesterase: An enzyme present in muscles or nerves that catalyzes the hydrolysis of choline ester.
- Hydrolase: A type of enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of any substrate.
- Isomerase: Any enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of any compound to an isomer.
- Proteinase or Endopeptidase: A type of enzyme that breaks down peptide bonds from within the peptide chain.
- Reductase: An enzyme that reduces, through chemical processes, any substrate.
- Synthase: A type of enzyme that does not need ATP as an energy source during the catalysis of two molecules.
- Colipase: A small protein in pancreatic juice that helps with the functioning of pancreatic lipase.
- Anhydrase: An enzyme that deals with the removal of water from a material.
- Creatinase: An enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of creatine to sarcosine.
- Cyclase: An enzyme that forms a cyclic compound.
- Oxidase: Any of many enzymes that help in oxidation.
- Peptidase: An enzyme that hydrolyzes peptides to amino acids.
Related Word Roots
1. Enzy- (Greek: “leaven” or “ferment”)
Meaning: Relating to or derived from enzymes.
- Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions.
- Enzymology: The study of enzymes.
2. Zym- (Greek: “ferment”)
Meaning: Relating to fermentation or enzymes.
- Zymase: An enzyme complex that catalyzes the fermentation of sugar into alcohol.
- Zymology: The study of fermentation processes.
3. Catal- (Greek: “down” + “loosen”)
Meaning: Relating to catalysts or catalysis.
- Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
- Catalysis: The acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst.
We hope this article on the commonly used Ase Root Word has been helpful to you in remembering the words based on the Root Word Ase and enhancing your vocabulary.
Want to explore more Word Roots?
