enzyme

(en'zim) [G. en, in, + zyme, leaven.] An organic substance of colloid structure, secreted by the body cells, which acts as a ferment, inducing chemical changes in other substances by catalysis, itself remaining apparently unchanged in the proce . An effort has been made to introduce order in the nomenclature of the enzymes by calling each after the name of the body upon which it acts, adding the termination -ase. 'autolyt'ic e., an e. formed in the ti ues which is capable of transforming ti ue constituents into characteristic cleavage products, clott'ing e., coagfulose. deam'idizing e., one which decomposes the amino-acids into ammonia compounds, inhib'itory e., anti-enzyme, oxid a'tion e., oxidase. redu'cing e., one which has the property of withdrawing oxygen, as, for example, causing the production of hydrogen sulphide in the presence of sulphur and water; reductase.