isomerase

[ ahy-som-uh-reys, -reyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of enzymes that catalyze reactions involving intramolecular rearrangements.

isomerase

/ aɪˈsɒməreɪs /

noun

1. any enzyme that catalyses the conversion of one isomeric form of a compound to another

Word History and Origins

Origin of isomerase¹

First recorded in 1940–45; isomer + -ase

Example Sentences

Perhaps this means that xylose isomerase decreases the availability of a glucose substrate needed for the synthesis of trehalose.

From Nature

The authors administered trehalose to flies that lacked gut bacteria and had been provided with xylose isomerase, and report that the trehalose treatment caused the flies’ walking speed to increase.

From Nature

Schretter et al. found that the walking activity of flies that lacked gut bacteria but had been given xylose isomerase was increased by activation of the genes encoding enzymes needed for the synthesis of octopamine.

From Nature

Work remains to be done to fill in the gaps in explaining how xylose isomerase affects the level of trehalose in the fruit fly and the activity of octopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

From Nature

Further experiments revealed that supplying xylose isomerase to flies whose bacteria had been eliminated was necessary and sufficient to modulate fly locomotion.

From Nature