oxygenasen.
/ˈɒksᵻdʒᵻneɪz/, /ˈɒksᵻdʒᵻneɪs/, U.S. /ˈɑksədʒəˌneɪz/, /ˈɑksədʒəˌneɪs/ Biochemistry.
Originally: any oxidase producing hydrogen peroxide. Now: any enzyme which brings about the incorporation of molecular oxygen into a substrate.
ΚΠ
1903 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 84 i. 378 Most oxydases contain principles of both types, and it is proposed to retain the term peroxydase for those substances..which are not themselves oxidisers, but impart activity to, and thus destroy, peroxides, whilst the new term, ‘oxygenase’, is proposed for those substances..which are capable of producing hydrogen peroxide, but leave it in an inactive condition.
1920 M. W. Onslow in Biochem. Jrnl. 14 536 The function of this additional enzyme is to catalyse the oxidation of the catechol substance with the formation of a peroxide... It is proposed to call this second enzyme an oxygenase, a term originally used by Chodat and Bach.
1964 Rep. Internat. Union Biochem. Comm. on Enzymes in M. Florkin & E. H. Stotz Comprehensive Biochem. XIII. vi. 33 All enzymes catalysing oxido-reductions will be named ‘oxidoreductases’ in the systematic nomenclature... [In the trivial nomenclature] the terms ‘dehydrogenase’ or ‘reductase’ will be used much as hitherto... ‘Oxidase’ will be used only for cases where O2 acts as an acceptor, and ‘oxygenase’ only for those cases where the O2 molecule is directly incorporated into the substrate.
1971 M. F. Mallette et al. Introd. Biochem. viii. 282 Both oxygenases and hydroxylases use O2 to alter substrates... Both classes of enzymes reduce O2 but do it by incorporating oxygen atoms into organic substrates. On the other hand, oxidases reduce O2..and do not incorporate it into organic compounds.
1992 Nature 15 Oct. 644/1 Haem oxygenase is a major stress protein in human cells treated with oxidants.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1903