Common Functional Classes of Enzymes

Question 1

Hydrolase

Answer 1

catalyzes a hydrolytic cleavage reaction

Question 2

Nuclease

Answer 2

breaks down nucleic acids by hydrolyzing bonds between nucleotides

Question 3

Protease

Answer 3

breaks down proteins by hydrolyzing peptide bonds between amino acids

Question 4

Ligase

Answer 4

joins two molecules together

eg.: DNA Ligase

Question 5

Isomerase

Answer 5

catalyzes rearrangement of bonds within a single molecule

Question 6

Polymerase

Answer 6

catalyzes polymerization reactions such as DNA/RNA synthesis

Question 7

Kinase

Answer 7

catalyzes addition of phosphate groups to molecules

eg.: protein kinase adds phosphate to proteins

Question 8

Phosphatase

Answer 8

catalyzes hydrolytic removal of phosphate group from a molecule

Question 9

Oxido-Reductase

Answer 9

catalyzes reactions in which one molecule is oxidized while the other is reduced
also called oxidases/reductases/dehydrogenases

Question 10

ATPase

Answer 10

hydrolyzes ATP.